NetPort Energy Cluster has received an application “SmartBed Blekinge” (Test bed for energy storage) granted from Vinnova, which we are of course very happy. Vinnova received a total of 53 applications for the announcement “Test Beds in Environmental Technology – Spring 2017”, where “SmartBed Blekinge” is one of the projects that were granted.
The project application concerns a pilot study for a smart energy storage test bed, where the contributions, knowledge and drivers of different actors will be included and combined to create the conditions for a major design and realization project where an open platform is developed and offered to those who wish. The project includes partners with knowledge about energy production in the form of solar and wind, energy storage, transmission of electricity, system management and optimization systems, and good contacts with many additional companies and organizations active in the energy industry. The platform we will create should be seen not only in a technology perspective in terms of hard and software but equally in the perspective of new business opportunities. We see the need for SmartBed Blekinge from basically all players in the entire value chain and mainly small players without sufficient knowledge, ability or economics to conduct their own testing activities. In addition, probably other new players are likely to have a different business and customer perspective. There are many initiatives regarding energy storage in Sweden as well as internationally. However, we believe that our approach with an overall perspective including business and legal aspects is quite unique in one for all, in principle open, test environments where different actors will be encouraged to cooperate.
Vinnova’s motivation for granting SmartBed Blekinge is that “the application addresses an important area and is expected to have good potential to contribute to the development and growth of the environmental technology area. The testbed has a clear focus on managing the impact of problems and indirectly need for base load power, which is an area that will grow. The planning project has a unique width and is expected to have great potential as a test bed in flexible energy systems. Actor constellation is considered to be strong for the planning project with commitment from relevant stakeholders from the entire value chain. Furthermore, a strong argument is presented for how gender equality and diversity aspects will be integrated into the project’s implementation. ”
The project is being carried out in collaboration with NODA AB, Solar Supply Sweden AB, EON Elnät Sverige AB, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola (BTH), Affärsverken Karlskrona AB, Karlshamn Energi AB, Blekinge Vindkraft ek.för. and Power Circle AB.
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