The STORM Controller can dynamically control demand and simultaneously reduce network temperatures in real-time. All of this is at no compromise to the quality of service delivered to the end consumers.
Wide array of benefits
With STORM, network operators are able to reduce their peak loads by up to 30% resulting in substantial reductions in fuel costs. The excess free capacity of the peak production units thanks to reduced usage can be used to connect new customers at no additional CAPEX. In addition, STORM precisely controls supply temperature setpoints to minimize heat losses, and lowers building return temperatures, generating maximum value for heat networks.
The main features of the STORM Controller are:
- Peak shaving: heat demand is shifted from peak times to off-peak times when cheaper sustainable energy is available
- Autonomous: self-learning and adaptive algorithms ensure that there is no need for expert intervention in order to reconfigure and make adjustments
- Truly scalable: can connect to large and small heat networks, with connections to few or many buildings. Can easily scale to multiple heat networks.
- Easy integration: can be quickly and easily integrated with substations of several manufacturing brands
Proven Technology
The STORM Controller is an industry-leading innovation that was developed by VITO/EnergyVille for the global market. STORM is currently operational in several networks in The Netherlands, Sweden, France, Belgium, and China.
In France, the STORM Controller was deployed on the district heating network in Paris-Saclay in November 2021. Over the course of the entire heating season, the controller reduced peak energy consumption each day using demand-side management, generating maximum value for the network operators and owners. Paris-Saclay is a development project launched in 2009 and is one of the largest in Europe covering a territory representing a living area for 650,000 inhabitants spread across 27 municipalities. The main aim of this project is to establish an urban centre for scientific and industrial excellence to strengthen the French economy. This centre includes universities, industrial R&D centres, offices for SMEs, and residential real estate to provide housing for people working in the area.
The heat supply for the entire urban centre is provided by a local district heating network powered by deep geothermal energy. The network is managed by EPAPS (The Public Planning Establishment of Paris-Saclay) and operated by Idex.
As part of the Interreg D2Grids project, VITO/EnergyVille has been helping EPAPS and Idex in solving the challenges they face through peak demand management thanks to the STORM controller. Since November 2021, STORM has been operational on the network in Paris-Saclay controlling 3 large residential buildings used by the students at the university in the urban centre. These buildings combined represent about 25% of the total heat load, thereby offering a large amount of thermal flexibility to the STORM peak management system. VITO and EPAPS will continue to operate the controller going into the next heating season and generate even more value from the heat network.
