CoSSMic · Collaborating Smart Solar-powered Micro-grids

When considering renewable energy sources, like solar electricity, people often do not directly see the benefit of their investment. While the sun is shining and might be producing electricity in their homes, they are at their work and cannot use that energy directly, while when they need the energy at night (for laundry, lighting, computers) the solar panel is no longer producing. Indeed, research has shown that while in theory houses can be self-reliant on solar panels by the amount of electricity they produce, it would require considerable (and expensive) storage capacity to realize this.<br/>With smart management and control systems, different types of buildings (for instance a mix of houses, companies and schools) could be connected in such a way that this neighbourhood would use more, or even most, of its renewable energy within the community. For example, if one neighbour does not use her electric car one day, its battery can be used to store excess energy produced from the solar panels on another neighbour's roof.<br/>The CoSSMic project aims to develop the ICT tools needed to facilitate this sharing of renewable energy within a neighbourhood, and will show the feasibility of its concept in two different areas: Konstanz in Germany and the Province of Caserta in Italy. At these trial locations, which are rather different in terms of population, sun, andavailable equipment, CoSSMic will investigate how to motivate people to participate in acquiring (more) renewable energy and the sharing of renewable energy in the neighbourhood, and test methods for making money with these schemes.<br/>