EMSURE

The challenge of the project consists of developing models, methods and technologies to assist decision makers and companies in making the Portuguese Centro Region truly sustainable as far as energy and mobility are concerned. Research objectives deal with the following main topics: characterisation and modelling of energy resources, both supply-side and demand-side resources; design and assessment of integrated energy management strategies taking into account the electric grid, local generation, thermal and electric (including electric vehicles) energy storage and interruptible/shiftable loads; modelling and simulation of an energy management system able to manage one’s home or small business energy usage in real-time endowed with algorithms to coordinate the energy demand, energy storage, local generation and selling back to the grid according to price signals, comfort requirements, weather conditions and renewable availability; models and decision support tools for retrofitting planning of existing buildings; technological solutions and assessment methods for near-zero energy buildings; assessment of the geothermal potential for power production in target areas in Centro Region; models for studying the feasibility of production of biofuels from forest residues; transport network planning models and methods; land use transport simulation; new urban transportation modes and services planning; traffic engineering design; road maintenance management models and methods.