RACE Project with Real-Time AI Computing in the Energy Sector
Develco participates in the exciting project RACE about Real-Time AI Computing in the Energy Sector together with Brønderslev Forsyning, Glaze, Agerkrantz Controls, and Aalborg University. The RACE project is supported by the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program (EUDP). Energy Cluster Denmark facilitates the development project.
Suppliers in the district heating sector use today proprietary solutions with vendor lock in making it difficult to exchange data between flexible systems and to achieve energy efficiency and energy savings in the entire district heating system.
District Heating Model with Real-time Data and Artificial Intelligence
The purpose of the RACE project is to develop and test a district heating model with sensors, real-time data, and artificial intelligence at Brønderslev Forsyning to optimize the district heating production.
Develco’s contribution to the RACE project is hardware development of a data collection device with several sensors for Agerkrantz Controls. The sensors measure flow, pressure, and temperature in the district heating network and send real-time data via LTE-M to the intelligent digital platform Beacon Tower from Glaze. The platform collects simultaneously data from external data sources such as weather information and production prices. The platform transmits all collected data to an artificial intelligence provided by Aalborg University. The artificial intelligence generates a simulation model of the district heating network at Brønderslev Forsyning – a digital twin. With the artificial intelligence it is possible to predict the district heating consumption and at the same time to minimize heat loss, optimize temperature, and create optimal comfort at the district heating users.
Savings and Energy Optimization
The solution with artificial intelligence in the energy sector contributes to the green transition, as it can reduce energy consumption by 5% to 15%, depending on how optimized the existing control system is at the district heating plant.
The RACE project runs during the period from August 2023 to February 2026. The project uses Brønderslev Forsyning as a stand-alone case. The goal of the project is to create a model that can be configured for new models for local and global utility companies.
