Just like in 2020, the Province of North Holland also supports Hedgehog Applications in 2021 and 2022 in setting up innovative projects through the SME Innovation Stimulation Region and Top Sectors program, better known as MIT. The goal of the MIT schemes is to promote sustainable innovations in SMEs to contribute to a sustainable, innovative, and entrepreneurial economy, and is suitable for all stages of innovation projects. In 2020, knowledge was gained and the feasibility of the Hedgehog Local Controller was tested, and from 2020 to 2022, the focus will be on R&D collaboration with two other partners from North Holland: Maxem and Edmij.
MIT Feasibility Project: Hedgehog Local Controller
This project involves conducting a feasibility study in preparation for an R&D collaboration project. Hedgehog Applications has focused the feasibility project on the development of an economically and technically risky new product: the Hedgehog Local Controller.
This generic controller is capable of intelligently managing various stationary batteries via OCPP 2.0. The project aligns with Program Line 5 of the Top Sector Energy (the new energy system in the built environment, MMIP5). The goal of the system is to manage the battery in such a way that it charges when a lot of renewable energy is generated and discharges when there is peak demand for energy, such as when electric cars are plugged into charging stations in the morning. The feasibility project addressed technical, economic, and legal questions.
The feasibility study has shown that an ESS can be made intelligent with a Hedgehog Local Controller. Within the feasibility project, an exercise was conducted demonstrating that such algorithms can be implemented via OCPP. Through methods like asymmetric phase balancing via a 3-phase control loop, it is possible to involve other phases when one phase is overloaded. This will be managed through smart algorithms in the Hedgehog Local Controller, allowing a limited AC connection to be optimally utilized across all three phases. Interoperability via OCPP is potentially feasible, as the charging points and battery systems are similar and can take advantage of all functionalities. Additionally, expansion through future releases is possible. The use of open standards is also supported by TKI Urban Energy and RVO, as it ensures interoperability.
At the end of the feasibility study, a ‘Go’ moment was reached. There were more than enough points of connection from the feasibility research to continue the project by transitioning to an R&D collaboration project, in which, among other things, an ESS prototype will be developed and the system will be demonstrated.
MIT R&D Collaboration Project: Interoperable Energy Management System (IEMS)
The province has granted a subsidy for the execution of a Research & Development collaboration project, consisting of industrial research and/or experimental development. Hedgehog Applications has formed a partnership with two other SMEs from North Holland: Maxem and Edmij. While Hedgehog Applications and Maxem focus mainly on local energy management and battery control, Edmij complements this by developing algorithms and software that enable the prediction of energy consumption and production, using this information to trade energy on the market as efficiently as possible. In this MIT R&D project, Hedgehog, Maxem, and Edmij are developing an innovative new Interoperable Energy Management System (IEMS). The IEMS consists of an innovative circular battery pack (Hedgehog Applications), an innovative open protocol Energy Management System (Maxem), and innovative flexibility coupling with energy markets (Edmij). By combining the technical expertise of these three parties in this MIT R&D project, the result will be an IEMS in which battery systems, charging points, back offices, and energy suppliers work via OCPP 2.0. This will allow all market participants to connect.
