WeForming Services Co-Creation, Business Models, Functional Specifications and Reference Architecture (2nd version)

The report explores the adoption of smart grid technologies in the EU and highlights the pivotal role of end users, presenting challenges and strategies for public engagement (Section 2). It emphasizes the importance of educating building users about smart grid technologies and addressing user concerns related to costs, security, and the benefits of intelligent Grid Forming Buildings (iGFBs). The chapter incorporates findings from an end-user survey and initial feedback on WeForming applications, which reveal a strong interest in energy efficiency but limited knowledge about smart grid technologies. The chapter concludes by emphasizing that bridging knowledge gaps and addressing user concerns are critical for the successful implementation and widespread adoption of iGFBs in both commercial and residential buildings.

The report delves into innovative Business Models for iGFBs in Section 3, analyzing existing revenue opportunities across Europe for single-use and multi-use applications. The section also explores future business models, highlighting functionalities such as solar energy self-consumption and thermal storage optimization. The discussion includes stakeholders such as building managers and grid operators, and presents business models based on concepts like One Stop Shop (OSS), Product as a Service (PaaS), Innovative Financing Schemes (IFS), and New Revenue Models (NRM). A SWOT analysis and Lean Model Canvas are provided for each proposed business model. Co-simulation scenarios are implemented evaluating the business (a product quantification based on techno-economic information and customer information) and function layer (simulates the couplings of the thermal energy, the electric and the EV mobility vectors in a modular way) aiming at presenting a quantitative analysis of the proposed models.

Section 4 highlights the critical role of interoperability in modern energy systems for iGFBs. Seamless data exchange and compatibility across diverse technological platforms are essential for efficient and sustainable energy management. This section explains how interoperability fosters collaboration among WeForming stakeholders through the establishment of the Open Services Catalogue. It underscores the importance of standards developed by organizations such as ETSI, which ensure regulatory compliance and innovation.

Section 5 outlines the development process for the WeForming Reference Architecture (RA). It reviews existing reference architecture models and proposes a novel approach leveraging Data Spaces for secure and user-centric data management within iGFBs. The chapter concludes with the presentation of the second version of the WeForming RA, detailing its data flow and hierarchical structure. Key building blocks, such as the cloud platform layer, Middleware-Interoperability Layer, AI/ML applications, and Real-Time Controller, are analyzed using a Model View Control approach.