Micro Electricity Generation Association (MEGA)

Micro Electricity Generation Association (MEGA) owes its origins to the pioneering Wind Generator Design and Development Work carried out, as early as the mid-seventies, on the most extreme and exposed Atlantic Wind Test-Sites in Ireland – among the many outcomes was the modern governor systems, blade design fundamentals, grid modulated inverters. MEGA is a non-for-profit Research, Development and Incubation Organisation involving Active Energy Citizens, Communities, Local Authorities, Research Institutes, and both local and International Energy-Tech Companies. Siemens has worked closely with MEGA since 2008. For over a decade the Micro Electricity Generation Association, MEGA, in partnership with South Dublin County Council has been incubating new Smart Grid Systems through a unique consortium of Local Authorities, Communities, Research Institutes and Energy-Tech Enterprises on the Tallaght Smart Grid Living-Lab/Test-bed. (www.tallaghtsmartgrid.com). https://www.tyndall.ie/news/consumers-atthe-centre-of-ireland-s-new-community-gridenergy-research-project/ Cellular Smart Grids powered by Prosumers . For over a decade the Micro Electricity Generation Association, MEGA, in partnership with South Dublin County Council, has also been incubating new Smart Grid Systems Multi Line

through a unique consortium of Local Authorities, Communities, Research Institutes and Energy-Tech Enterprises. What has emerged is a highly automation-friendly Prosumer-based Cellular Smart Grid System. Within each cell bounded by a local substation. Prosumer Group Energy Communities are organized, and regulated by contract, to accelerate the roll-out of grid-friendly Distributed Energy Resources by contracting willing prosumers to power-match increasing levels of local generation and preventing spill outside of the contracted cell area – local prosumer production “regulated by contract” is consumed or stored (for later use) in real-time under the control of the dedicated ultra-high speed Micro Grid Stabilizer. In its most basic form prosumers are encouraged to form Community Energy Groups to bring significant Grid Stabilization inside local area cells to free up the grid for long haul power objectives. The net result is increasing prosumer numbers providing Flexibility to modern Grid Systems that are coming under severe pressure from increasing levels of inflexible electricity systems. Effectively Prosumers are being empowered to build balanced Community Grid Systems “behind the meter” – Grid-Edge Regulated by Contract. EUROMET (EU National Physics Laboratories 2012-2016: http://www.smartgrids2.eu/wpcontent/uploads/sites/12/2016/03/P2P-1425MEGA-Cellular-Smart-Grid-presentation-feb16.pdf IEA Award 2019 Community Grids.

UN SDG7 Tallaght Smart Grid Test Bed (Ireland) D2.6: Framework for Community Grid Implementation
https://cityxchange.eu/knowledge-base/d2-6-framework-for-community-grid-implementation/

Home Knowledge Base Public Deliverables D2.6: Framework for Community Grid Implementation

The deliverable 2.6: Framework for Community Grid Implementation was submitted by MPOWER, with contributions from Powel, ESB Networks, IOTA, and NTNU in January 2021. The executive summary of the deliverable is available below and the full deliverable at the end for download:

Community Grid is a local energy community network of consumers, producers, and prosumers connected in a way that they can trade energy and flexibility inside the network without disturbing the power balance outside such a created local network. The Community Grid follows a demand response approach, sets up the infrastructure, and empowers end-users with necessary ICT infrastructure so that they can monitor and manage usage of their flexibility assets in real time with the opportunity to realise certain benefits from the active participation. The report describes an innovative approach to the creation of a disturbance neutral local energy community that will be implemented in +CityxChange lighthouse city of Limerick Ireland) and Trondheim (Norway). It is based on experience from Tallaght Community Energy Living Lab1 enriched with new insights that came from further research and inputs from other project partners involved in this task (POWEL, TrønderEnergi, ESB Networks, and IOTA). The report is formed in a way that can be used for application in any other city, covering all parts that are necessary for the implementation of the Community Grid.

The community Grid concept is an essential part of the +CityxChange initiative for the establishment of Positive Energy Blocks/Districts. Elaboration of the Community Grid concept has led to the establishment of a Community Grid System (CGS). CGS aims to be the solution that will enable citizens to effectively manage energy consumption in their buildings and communities. The Community Grid framework consists of four main segments or pillars: Energy Community Establishment; Community Legal, Grid & Financial Governance Body; Community Grid Smart System Design, and Community Market Places. Each segment deals with different Energy Community aspects that should be taken into consideration for the successful implementation of the Community Grid System. These are technical, regulatory, legal, social, spatial and economic aspects.

A key component in the Community Grid framework is the creation of a new governing support body, a Community System Operator (CSO). It is envisaged that the CSO will be a legal entity that oversees, by franchise, the management and safe operation of a Community Grid System. A CGS comprises participants that operate under specific rules, set by, and agreed with a CSO i.e. Regulation by Contract implemented by way of a system distributed by Franchise Agreement to exacting Community Grid Standards.

1 Tallaght Community Energy Living Lab was also known as Tallaght Smart Grid Test Bed project was first supported by the SEAI Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) Funding Programme in 2013 which led to the development and demonstration of a trial of the first community energy grid in Tallaght.