SynGRID partners presented research at IEEE PES ISGT Europe Conference

This October, the sunny city of Dubrovnik hosted the IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT) Europe Conference, gathering global experts to discuss the future of smart grids and decarbonized energy systems. Organized by the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) and the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER), this year’s conference focused on the theme: “Towards Net-Zero: Integrating Smart Technologies for a Decarbonized Connected Energy Grid.”

Among the notable contributions was a paper presented by SynGRID partners titled “Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice in Local Energy Sharing – Energy Communities in Croatia.” Coauthored by dr Mirna Gržanić Antić, Assoc. prof. Tomislav Capuder, and dr Tomi Medved, the research delves into the transformative potential of energy communities in Croatia, offering innovative frameworks for local energy sharing.

The study highlights the regulatory and practical challenges faced by renewable energy communities in Croatia. It emphasizes the opportunity for significant cost savings through energy-sharing models, especially when paired with community-owned battery storage systems. Key findings from the research include:

• Insights into regulatory adaptations needed to support energy communities.
• The potential for community members to save up to 20% on electricity costs through optimized energy-sharing schemes.
• The role of dynamic and static energy-sharing models in enhancing local self-consumption and reducing dependence on external suppliers.

This research not only bridges the gap between theory and practice but also offers a scalable blueprint for implementing local energy sharing in Croatia and beyond. It aligns seamlessly with SynGRID’s mission to foster synergies in low-voltage grid management and empower citizens to play an active role in the clean energy transition.

The full paper is available on IEEE Xplore.