Welcome to the ISLANDER virtual visit! Take a ‘walk’ through Borkum and the technologies deployed within the ISLANDER project.
Welcome to the ISLANDER virtual visit! Take a ‘walk’ through Borkum and the technologies deployed within the ISLANDER project.
The Smart IT platform (SITP) is a key development of the ISLANDER project and acts as an aggregator and distributed energy resource management system (DERMS). It controls renewable energy generation, storage and demand response technologies, enabling dynamic, data-driven decisions and optimal grid control. The platform determines the optimal use of the generated renewable energy, deciding whether it should be stored, consumed or sold to the energy market. It consists of several modules such as data acquisition and big data management, monitoring, control algorithms, market integration tools and forecasting modules (individual and macroscopic energy demand and production forecast, weather forecast, energy price forecast). Through its smart energy management capabilities, the STIP will ensure maximum efficiency of renewable energy systems and demand response strategies, effectively reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
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As part of the ISLANDER project, three buildings are equipped with battery storage and photovoltaic (PV) systems to capture and store renewable energy for efficient use.
Key components include:
The hybrid inverters are equipped with advanced communication capabilities, enabling seamless integration with external systems such as the Smart IT Platform (SIT) by Ayesa. Utilizing protocols like MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport), the inverters can securely transmit real-time data to the SIT platform for remote monitoring, analysis, and control.
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A Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging station is a station that allows bi-directional energy flow between electrical vehicles and the power grid. It contributes to the decarbonisation of Borkum by enabling electric vehicles to return stored energy to the grid during peak demand periods, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. In addition, V2G incentivises the uptake of electric vehicles, accelerating the transition to cleaner transport and more sustainable energy systems.
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The Demand Response App, developed by project partner AYESA, is a mobile application designed to enable the active participation of Borkum's residents in an energy management service called Demand Response (DR). It seeks to incentivise consumers to follow the most convenient consumption patterns considering actual and forecasted status of the island’s electrical grid (for instance, expected renewable generation, energy stored, etc).
Learn more: Demand Response App User Guide
The Hydrogen-based Seasonal Storage System is a key component of the ISLANDER project, designed for long-term energy storage over seasonal or extended periods. Its primary function is to ensure a reliable electricity supply, independent of seasonal variations or fluctuating demand. This system helps to stabilise the grid and is coupled with other energy systems within the ISLANDER project as well as other renewable energy sources to produce green hydrogen. It is connected to AYESA’s Smart IT Platform, whose optimisation algorithms will state the amount of power at which the hydrogen system needs to operate.
The main workflow of the system in simple terms is:
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A seawater district heating system utilises seawater as the primary heat source to provide thermal energy for space heating and domestic hot water to a 100-unit apartment complex on Borkum. The system uses heat pumps to extract low-grade thermal energy from seawater, which is then raised to a usable temperature and distributed through a network of insulated pipes. The thermal mass of seawater provides a constant, inexhaustible reservoir of heat that reduces dependence on fossil fuels and, when combined with renewable electricity, reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Main characteristics of the installed equipment and expected performance:
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The Renewable Energy System with Small-storage (RESS) combines residential solar electricity generation and lithium-ion battery storage. This system is installed in 30 residential households on Borkum and is designed to cover a large share of the households’ electricity consumption. Furthermore, the RESS household solutions contribute to grid stability by using the battery as flexibility capacity for demand response programs. Each solution consists of solar roof-mounted photovoltaic solar panels, a Li-ion battery pack, all the needed power electronics (inverter, protections, etc), a smart meter, and connection ready for its aggregation to the central smart IT platform.
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The public lighting network of Borkum consists of 1,100 light points (LED). This network is connected to and managed by the ISLANDER Smart IT platform. The street lighting system monitoring performed by the Smart IT Platform is able to collect relevant data from the Borkum lighting system (energy consumption, operating status of the luminaires, etc.). This information is sent to the remote control centre, which processes it and makes informed decisions about the operation and management of the lighting system.
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As part of the ISLANDER project, an innovative energy storage system combining ultracapacitors and lithium-ion batteries has been developed. The system aims to achieve a power capacity of nearly 1 MW, primarily to support intra-day energy regulation and peak shaving. It consists of two core units: a 500 kW battery-based unit and a 450 kW hybrid unit that integrates both batteries and ultracapacitors. Together, these units optimise the flow of power into the grid and manage energy demand, particularly during peak periods. The 500kW unit provides long-term storage, while the 450kW hybrid system uses ultracapacitors for fast energy response, extending battery life. The system is managed by the Ayesa Smart IT platform, which optimises energy distribution in real time. This solution increases energy efficiency, reduces dependence on external sources and supports Borkum's transition to renewable energy.
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