Lead Partner: Dr. Nick Timmons, WiSAR Lab, LyIT

Funder: Interreg NPA

Value: €1,65 million

Duration: 3 years, start date Oct 2018,

end date extended to March 2022 - Covid

Partner Counties and Organisations:

Ireland; WiSAR Lab, LYIT

Finland; Oulu University of Applied Scieces

N. Ireland; Derry City & Strabane District Council

Faroe Islands; Environment Agency

Ireland; Donegal County Council

Norway; Sintef Research Centre

Iceland; National Energy Authority

SMARTrenew: Smarter Renewable Energy and Heating

Management for Arctic and Northern Rural Territories

SMARTrenew: Challenges facing the Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA)

region to be addressed by SMARTrenew:

• Remote, low population densities, cold climate, with dependency on fossil fuel for heat and energy

• Poor uptake of smart renewable technology

• High cost of fossil fuel leading to fuel poverty and insecurity

• Smart energy storage is underdeveloped with energy being wasted

• Unrealised benefits of renewable energy from local resources and latest energy research

• Many existing buildings and energy systems not optimised for energy efficiency or storage

• Countries are at different levels of renewable energy development and have transferrable skills and knowledge.

SMARTrenew Results and Progress:

The main results will be:

(i) greater awareness in communities and local authorities;

(ii) renewable energy implementations that will show that local energy poverty can be decreased, and energy security increased.

1 NPA transnational network of 7 partner organisations from 6 NPA countries

1 transnational Directory of Services and Solutions online targeted at the whole NPA territory

http://smartrenew.interreg-npa.eu/directory-of-services/

6 pilots implemented across the network procurement and Implementation stages, some delays due to Covid

6 “showcase” Smarter Energy Rural Communities Ongoing development

18 houses and public buildings retrofitted with smart renewable energy and storage solutions, over 100 buildings to benefit

1 smart storage service Ongoing development across several pilots

1 renewable service. Ongoing development across several pilots

Smart renewable mix and borehole thermal

storage in the Faroe IslandsFaroe Islands are remote in the middle of the North

East Atlantic

93% of the energy use is from imported oil

Energy storage are needed for fluctuating new

renewable energy

Around 20% of the total energy is used for space

heating

Ground source heat pumps are replacing oil burners

The Faroese SMARTrenew pilot will pilot the storage of

heat in deep ground source heat pump boreholes -

Borehole Thermal Energy Storage combined with

Water Storage

Off-grid households in the Arctic Circle – Sintef

Research, Norway

There are four families in Lofoten Arctic Circle)who are aiming for complete off-grid solutions. They are at different stages of implementation.

Challenges: Supply of renewable energy during the winter months are really challenging –polar nights!

Families use innovative solutions to keep down consumption of electricity and cherry-picking household appliances the used the least amount of energy. Heating and cooking are mostly supplied by wood. Energy storage in form of batteries and hot water tank. Have struggled, washed clothes in local river at times!

Project activity: remote monitoring of weather especially: solar wind and temperature weather, energy consumption, to reach a off-grid solution using optimal mix renewables. Aim to deliver wintertime comfort and energy reliability with smart renewable mix.

Houses will be showcases - off-grid living in the cold north!

Converting Icelands “cold” areas to other renewables

Parts of Iceland do not benefit from the heat and energy

provided by underground hot volcanic water. SMARTrenew has

been involved in projects to convert these regions to other

renewables away from oil.

Initial SMARTrenew work was a study for heat from the sea

combined with biomass for district heating in town in the

more wooded east

Main pilot project on island of Grimsey off north coast

currently which was 100% oil reliant. Conversion to

biomass /wind / solar and battery storage.

Old car batteries have been upcycled, no good for cars but

can still store and generate for low power applications

20 houses to be converted for 61 residents.

Donegal County Council – Milford Public Services Centre and Library

Renewable Mix/Smart Storage • 3no. 42.6 KW Air-to-Water Heat Pumps

• 6Kw Solar PV Array

• Pumped Insulation to 50mm Wall Cavity

Pilot Project Benefits • Removal of the dependency on heating oil

• Providing a smart renewable energy mix

• Providing smart heating and electric control mix

Innovation Component • The first Public Services Centre and Library

building in county Donegal to be retrofitted

to a B2 Energy Rating incorporating various

innovative renewable technologies

Estimated Savings: 200,562 kWhs per annum primarily in thermal savings

Estimated Payback: 14 years on initial capital, reduced to 7 years following grant aids

DCSDC Main Pilot : Heatboss Smart Heating in Harbour

House Council Building

• HEATBOSS installation Nov 2020

• Supply and install cost £6,695

• Savings of 30% on heating bills

• Payback period 3 years

• Intelligent

• Full integration with Building Management System

• WiFi enabled throughout building

• Control of 12 rooms and 37 radiators

Pilot 2 - Solar + Mixergy Smart tank

• Solar panels with a domestic hot water smart storage system. The smart

storage system will allow for us to utilize any excess solar for the panels

• The technology also benefits from web based app which monitors hot water

and also monitors the price of gas and electric so that it can charge at the

cheapest rate in periods of the year when their is a lack of sun.

• This technology beneficial for Councils with leisure/sports centres that have a

high demand for hot water.

Finland - Heat Storage to Reduce Oil Use in District Heating

Network by Kuusamon EVO and OUAS

EVO (Energy and Water Cooperative) runs the main district heating plant in Kuusamon and used mainly wood based fuel CHP system

When the main plant can’t match the heating demands, then oil fueled auxiliary systems are needed.

Objective is to build a 500m3 water storage tank to be used as a district heating storage and which can be charged with energy produced in the main DH plant with renewable, solid fuels.

The heat storage is to be used as a heat energy source to cover heating demand peaks, reducing usage of oil as a fuel, thus saving money and reducing emissions.

Storage also functions as a “customer” for the CHP, when electricity market prices are high.

OUAS is creating a smart control system to support optimization of the heat storage. Based on weather forecasts and usage data and taking into consideration next day electricity costs smart decisions can be made on when the charge and discharge the storage. This calculator also displays the benefits in fuel costs and emissions.

Benefits

Reduced oil use and CO2 emissions

Can be used as a ”customer” to maximize electricity production

Savings from reduced oil use and additional electriticity production

Will serve the entire DH network – many homes

Storage to cover the heating demands of a smaller/limited area in an emergency or crisis

Solar/battery Storage Car Charging @ Letterkenny Institute of

TechnologyContext:

Ireland very slow uptake of Electric Vehicles and slow roll out of charging stations

Domestic car use is 95% fossil fueled – one of highest in EU

Pilot to help change culture wedded to diesel/petrol cars and investigate the performance of a solar system and storage with grid back-up.

Pilot Implementation:

Solar array with battery storage and grid back-up to drive slow charging stations, built into LYIT car park, aimed at the all-day car parker

Full analysis and monitoring of power usage, breakdown of grid and renewable power usage, cost benefit analysis

Display meters will be installed for demonstration purposes to allow stakeholders to view

Benefits of HEATER project

Further transnational dissemination of results,

especially those that were affected by COVID delays

Opportunity to reach further across the NPA and the

wider EU with the outputs from the projects

Further opportunities to build new networks and

exchange ideas and practices, to ensure the reduced

reliance on fossil fuels.

Benefits of EU collaborative projects

Collaboration with like minds, learning new solutions

Exchange of knowledge and methods

Learning our neighbours culture and lifestyle

Expertise from other countries

Shared goals, working towards the same outcomes

And finally..

Online meetings are work well, but face to face meetings are essential for developing good relationships and trust

For further information on SMARTrenew or any of the pilots please contact:

Nick Timmons: nick.timmons@lyit.iewebsite: http://smartrenew.interreg-npa.eu/

Twitter: NPA@SMARTrenewNPA