CONNECT overall project goal is to investigate new concepts and technologies for power conversion that will be specifically developed for bidirectional power exchange. In this way, the energy grid will be able to support the extended integration of local storage and renewables, such as photovoltaics and Electric Vehicles. The enhanced capabilities of the power conversion fit seamlessly to the smart energy management systems researched in CONNECT applicable for single/multiple buildings and quarters, while monitoring approaches and advanced control algorithms will be developed which take into account renewable energy sources, local storage and electric vehicles for peak demand reduction and optimization of local generation, consumption and storage. CONNECT will also develop solutions for high interoperable, high data rate local and wide area communication in the grid with enhanced security in order to protect this critical infrastructure against attacks.

Iquadrat will contribute by developing novel cooperative energy management schemes that target to reduce the total energy that urban buildings obtain from the distribution grid, by optimally utilizing the energy produced by renewable energy sources that are installed in the buildings, and by promoting energy exchanges between buildings. Iquadrat will be also leading the dissemination and communication of the results. Iquadrat is highly interested in the results of CONNECT in order to enhance its smart-grid simulator and to develop efficient energy management solutions for urban buildings.

Partners: Infineon Technologies AG, NXP Semiconductors Germany GMBH, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen, Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Devolo AG, Mixed Mode GmbH, Slovenska Technicka Univerzita v Bratislave, R-DAS SRO, Enexis BV, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, HELIOX BV, GreenFlux Assets PV, Acondicionamiento Tarrasense Associacion, Centre Tecnologic De Telecomunicacions De Catalunya, Iquadrat Informatica SL, STMICROELECTRONICS SRL, ENEL Distribuzione S.P.A., Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario Per La Nanoelettronica, Politecnico Di Bari.