SUSTENANCE

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEM FOR ACHIEVING NOVEL CARBON NEUTRAL ENERGY COMMUNITIES

SUSTENANCE focuses on the development of smart technological concepts to enable the energy transition. It thus aims to establish sustainable energy systems for achieving novel carbon neutral energy communities, with higher shares of local renewable energy and efficiently integrated energy solutions for the electrical, heat, water, waste and transportation infrastructure.

The demonstration activities are in 4 countries: Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland and India, which differ in local energy resources, user behaviour, political structures, socio-economic and market conditions and regulations. However, SUSTENANCE will show how the same technical concepts e.g., the coupling of different energy vectors, storage solutions, demand response, smart control and digitalization, can be applied in each case, despite these differences.

The SUSTENANCE partners work towards local energy autarky via the demonstration of local integrated energy systems. This is realised by employing locally available distributed generation, including PV, heat pumps, biomass/biogas, flexible demand, energy storage, e-mobility and reliable irrigation or clean cooking.

Results will demonstrate cost-effective, sustainable, and customer centric solutions in the form of technical and business models and guideline,) for the effective integration of various energy vectors. Further, it will show how energy demands can be controlled to gain flexibility by using the intelligent operation of storage and demand side management, which can adapt to the capacity of the local grid and importantly, the local supply of renewables. Guidelines for user engagement will also be developed.
One additional benefit of the project is its contribution to the empowerment of women and children in rural areas of India by providing access to electricity, e-rickshaw mobility, and a reliable water supply.

SUSTENANCE is seeking synergies with researchers, businesses, experts, policy makers, energy and technology providers as well as local communities.

Duration: 01 July 2021 – 31 December 2024