The (un)intelligent grid : Sharing is caring

Sammanfattning

This study investigates the economic feasibility of implementing a Smart Micro Grid (SMG) in the planned suburban district Sydöstra Stadsdelarna (SÖS) in Uppsala, Sweden. The SMG concept, based on ViaEuropa’s EnergyNet system, combines photovoltaic (PV) electricity production, battery storage, EnergyRouters (ER), and internally shared electricity within a local microgrid connected to the conventional grid. The study evaluates the profitability of the system from the perspective of real estate owners (REO) while assuming that Uppsala Kommun (UK) remains financially break-even through annual fees. The methodology consists of quantitative technical and economic modeling based on GIS data, electricity consumption profiles, PV production scenarios, battery optimization, and historical electricity price data. Four scenarios were analyzed, combining high and low electricity price environments with lower and higher PV usage levels. The study models annual electricity flows, internal energy sharing, battery storage optimization, and capital expenditures, including ER and DC-cable networks. The results indicate that the SMG substantially reduces dependency on electricity purchased from the conventional grid through local PV production and battery storage. Profitability is shown to strongly depend on electricity pricing and the scale of PV installations. Scenarios with higher electricity prices generated the largest annual savings for real estate owners, while lower-price scenarios reduce the profitability of the system. The analysis further shows that battery storage contributes to lowering grid dependence and improving the utilization of locally produced electricity, although high initial investment costs remain a significant challenge. The study concludes that SMG technology has the potential to become economically beneficial in suburban developments such as SÖS under favorable electricity market conditions and sufficiently high PV production. In addition to potential economic benefits, the technology may contribute to increased energy resilience, reduced grid dependency, and improved integration of renewable energy in future urban districts.