CleanMobilEnergy – A Smart Energy Management System integrating renewable energy and electric vehicles.

Across North West Europe, cities are increasingly investing in renewable energy production and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. However, the control systems for energy generation, energy utilisation, energy storage and electric vehicle charging work are currently separate from each other. This results in high costs and CO2 emissions due to energy inefficiencies.

Electric vehicles are mostly powered by fossil fuel generated electricity. At the same time, renewable energy is inefficiently utilised because production and demand are not synchronised across the city.

The project CleanMobilEnergy will integrate various renewable energy sources, storage devices, electric vehicles and optimisation of energy consumption through one unique smart energy management system. The development of this intelligent Energy Management System (iEMS) will increase the economic value of renewable energy and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

The iEMS will assure the smart integration through interoperability based on open standards for data flows and analysis tools.CleanMobilEnergy will make it possible for renewable energy sources to be used locally, so electric vehicles can be charged with 100 % renewable energy offered at an optimum price. Electrical energy from the grid will only be required when prices are low or renewable energy sources are not available, the iEMS monitors and optimises the system 24hours a day, 7 days a week.

One generic transnational iEMS will be adapted to the 4 specific City Pilots, in Arnhem, London, Schwäbisch Gmünd and Nottingham. These pilots range from small towns to large cities. The 4 City pilots cover different types of renewable energy, storage and electric vehicles as well as different contexts and diverse city environments.

The City Pilots will utilise different state-of-the-art storage media in various environments, which are representative of North West Europe and are easily replicated in other cities across Europe. Specifically in London and Nottingham, for example, electric vehicles themselves will be used to power the buildings and depot by using innovative bi-directional chargers controlled by the integrated energy management system iEMS.

In Arnhem, on the other hand, renewable energy will be supplied to ships in the harbour adjacent to its industrial area. These pilots were chosen to represent a wide range of city sizes and environments, which are essential to developing a widely applicable system for future implementation across Europe.

Project phase

Implementation and operation

What is the goal of the project?

The CME project aims to develop an interoperable Energy Management System (iEMS) that could be deployed from small scale to city scale and optimize the supply and demand of energy using the connected assets such as: solar panels, wind turbines, vehicle-to-grid, static batteries, (light) electric vehicles, cold-ironing, etc.

What is the result of the project?

The iEMS helps to optimize the generation and consumption of energy, maximizing the use of renewable energy and potentially deferring the need for grid reinforcement.

Who initiated the project and which organizations are involved?

Several organizations are involved, both public and private. Two pilots are led by public organizations and two pilots are led by private companies. occasionally, a consortium is formed of both public and private organizations. The (L)EVs are used by employees of the organizations (except for the public charging units in Arnhem).

What is the next step?

The next step is to sort out the open-source license model and find follower cities that are interested in adopting the iEMS for their city.

What can other cities learn from your project?

It proved technically feasible to connect all components within the energy system to the iEMS. Setting the rules for each asset is the biggest challenge, especially when multiple stakeholders are involved. The exact added value of the iEMS will be calculated towards the end of 2022, but it's the goal to find follower cities and replicate the implementation of the iEMS in their energy system.

https://cenexgroup.nl/portfolio-item/cleanmobilenergy/

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Steady Traffic (Doorgaand verkeer) A slow shift towards a green economy, benefiting only the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA). The population grows to 3.7 million. Cars remain dominant, transitioning gradually to electric, but roads and trains stay congested. Digitalisation and innovation progress slowly, with limited impact on efficiency and accessibility.
Turbulent Weather (Rukwinden) Ongoing shocks and international instability, with the US leaving NATO and significant climate change. The population increases to 3.1 million. Fuel crises accelerate electrification, but investment focuses on priorities like the navy. Technological scepticism grows due to data breaches, impacting accessibility.
Our Own Path (Eigen weg) The Netherlands withdraws from international cooperation and leaves the EU, focusing on healthcare, circularity, and local production. The economy contracts due to trade restrictions and brain drain, and the population decreases to 2.6 million. Fewer traffic jams, but cars remain significant alongside increased regional public transport. Distrust in innovations and sustainability rises, with informal sharing preferred over commercial options.
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