Home Energy Management System (HEMS)

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About the city. Barcelona, recognized as the European capital of innovation in 2014, is a vast metropolitan centre with a long tradition of industry and entrepreneurship. The City Council of Barcelona encourages strategic initiatives aimed at developing international cooperation and promoting a global and forward-looking vision for businesses and public bodies, as well as science and technology centres.

Goal

The aim of the project is to reduce energy demand in the residential sector by visualizing customized individual energy data, real-time notification of consumer prices, personalized recommendations on the level of electrical appliances, and monitoring specific electrical appliances and indoor temperature.

Implementation period. The project was implemented in 2017.

Fact

Barcelona consumes 14,995 GWh/year and only 140 GWh of this is generated by renewable or residual energy.
The city generates 6,520 GWh of electricity per year locally, which represents 26% of electrical energy consumed in Barcelona.

Solutions

Energy company Naturgy has developed a prototype of HEMS for its customers to test a business model for smart home services. Naturgy has installed prototypes in 200 homes in Barcelona. The tool is controlled by a tablet or smartphone, and also includes visualization of self-generated electricity using PVs (photovoltaic (PV) system — A complete set of components for converting sunlight into electricity by the photovoltaic process, including the array and balance of system components.), if available.

The solution includes a number of devices connected to a central hub that sends data via Wi-Fi to the enterprise platform. The end-user controls and sees these devices in the app. Devices include a thermostat, smart plugs, and current clamps to disaggregate consumption.

Artificial intelligence algorithms are used to process smart meter data in order to personalize energy recommendations and disaggregate final

household consumption.

Functions provided by the Home Energy Management System:

The calculation of the gas consumption in real-time by monitoring the temperature, boiler control for energy efficiency improvements, real-time electricity consumption thanks to current-clamp installation, gas and electricity consumption monitoring, energy efficiency indexes, advice and gamification, electricity hourly prices for invoice optimisation, smart plugs, boiler maintenance optimisation.

Challenges

Lack of awareness and/or mistrust of the importance of monitoring and managing energy consumption is a major obstacle, along with end-user problems for tenants without basic technological knowledge. The app and hardware should be clear, intuitive, and easy to use.