The nGEL project is a collaborative journey towards a more sustainable energy future. Welcome to "The nGEL Innovators", a series dedicated to introducing the key partners of the project. Today, we are presenting to you VITO, the Control Strategy and System for Flexible ORC leader of the nGEL project.
VITO, the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, was founded in Belgium in 1991 and now is home to 1300 employees. As the science-to-technology partner for industry, government and society, VITO turns lab insights into real-world solutions. Insights from the laboratories of the institute are turned into technological innovations, AI solutions and policy advice. With a multidisciplinary approach and unique lab, scale-up, and testing infrastructure, VITO creates practical technological innovations to create impact in the field of cleantech and sustainable development so that our world can remain a liveable place for thousands of years.
Role in the nGEL Project
As the leader of Control Strategy and System for Flexible ORC (work package 3) in the nGEL project, VITO is coordinating and developing robust AI models capable of predicting both energy price and demand, as well as designing models at the component level. VITO is also developing a control strategy to balance the supply and demand. To enhance the district heating system, they are integrating a fault detection mechanism. Additionally, they are designing a flexible control support system. The package is completed with the development of parametric cost models of the control system including EMS.
Meet the VITO representative
Name: Dirk Vanhoudt
Designation: Activity Leader Digitalisation of District Heating and Cooling Networks
Contact: dirk.vanhoudt@vito.be
The nGEL project has received funding from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) Research and Innovation Actions under grant agreement No 101148170.