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The transformation of the energy system in Europe needs further acceleration to meet the European Green Deal targets. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels is a measure which becomes even more urgent with the current shortage of supply. In this context, ECS4DRES targets the ambitious objective of pursuing flexible, coordinated, and resilient distributed energy systems, developing several innovation streams aiming at solutions that seamlessly plug into existing installations, unload the distribution grid and locally balance electricity generated from renewable sources including hydrogen, energy storage systems and electrical loads. Specifically, these are: ? realization of a multi-modal energy hub ? exploiting renewable energy sources realized by means of dedicated high-efficiency power electronics converters ? multi-modal energy storage devices ? sophisticated energy management algorithms enabling the local balances between energy production, storage, and consumption ECS4DRES will also strengthen the long-term reliability, safety, and resilience of DRES by developing advanced monitoring and control technologies including integrated sensors capable of different types of detection for safety purposes, and for monitoring of energy transfers. Finally, ECS4DRES will achieve interoperable and lowlatency communication systems, enabling the widespread interconnection of a large number of DRES, subsystems, and components to realize optimal energy management between sources, loads, and storages, to improve power quality and to enable resilient system operation. Minimum power consumption and maximum interoperability are further goals of the researched monitoring, control and communication solutions. ECS4DRES strives to deliver a set of interoperable mature solutions centred around energy conversion and management for DRES, by designing, developing, and implementing the necessary electronic hardware and software components and systems. This includes the development of: ? hardware including highly efficient (e.g., > 97% efficiency) and high power density (e.g., > 50 W/inch3 power density) power converters and their control systems, sensor (e.g., hydrogen sensor with sensitivity better than RH2/R0 ˜ 100) and monitoring systems (e.g., 50% reduction of memory footprint and energy consumption of the applied neural networks) and their integration ? algorithms and software tools including control techniques for DRES and at grid level, local balance between energy production and consumption in microgrids (e.g., > 50% peak power reduction), by taking advantage from AI and advanced optimisation techniques (e.g., > 25% improved accuracy for energy management measures; >95% probability to detect anomalies) ? communication techniques including applications of 5G (e.g., > 70% reduction of latency) and wireless extensions of power line communications Most of all, ECS4DRES commits to perform a thorough validation of all the above with a set of 5 relevant use cases and demonstrators: ? UC1 Smart nanogrid with hydrogen charging station for low/medium-power vehicles ? UC2 Industrial location with DC and AC charging stations ? UC3 Intelligent cooperative buildings in microgrid infrastructures ? UC4 Microgrid testbed in the framework of energy community ? UC5 Wireless monitoring and management within the microgrid ECS4DRES will target to contribute to the state-of-the art knowledge on diverse aspects that are related to DRES (e.g. EV charging, power conversion, control and management methods), and to be competitive to the state of the art in terms of reliability, efficiency and, most importantly, of cost-effectiveness, while also targeting strong economic and social impacts mainly through the development of greener solutions that aiming at a net-zero and CO2-free electricity supply system. By exploiting the project results, ECS4DRES will generate a wide range of scientific, technological and economic impacts of global scale, fulfilling the needs of e.g., OEMs, DSOs, microgrid/nanogrid operators, EV charging station aggregators, energy communities, end customers and academia. ECS4DRES will provide interoperable and tailored solutions in the form of electronic control systems, sensing and monitoring technologies, and smart systems integration for the efficient and resilient deployment and operation of DRES, including the use of hydrogen and its related equipment and components. These solutions plug into existing installations seamlessly, thus minimizing the invest and accelerating the deployment. With these key findings, the project will pave the way for a wider dissemination of its scientific, technological, environmental, economic and social impacts. ECS4DRES will: ? strengthen and integrate scientific, innovative, and technological capacities and facilitate collaborative links, as well as ensure sustainability-driven global leadership and resilience of EU value chains in key technologies and industries, ? enhance the critical mass and scientific and technological capabilities and competences on energy sustainability, ? accelerate the green and digital transitions, ? enhance the research and innovation capabilities and performance of the existing and new European innovation ecosystem and economic value chains, including in start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), ? accelerate the deployment and uptake of innovative solutions, technologies, services and skills, ? ensure that components and systems technologies address Europe’s societal and environmental challenges. The overall target is to align with the European Union energy efficiency policy and contribute towards reduction of CO2 emissions of 55% by 2030 and to climate neutrality by 2050, as well as to the development of enhanced component technologies that guarantee security, trust and energy-efficiency for critical infrastructures and sectors in Europe.