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Managing an EnergyHub is not simple. Different companies and energy assets each have their own strategies and constraints. Grid congestion, price fluctuations, and variable energy generation add further complexity.

Traditional EMS solutions often fall short because they rely on fixed rules and do not account for dynamic market conditions.

Tibo EMS takes a different approach. With Alice, our AI-driven optimisation algorithm, an EnergyHub is not just managed but strategically controlled.

This happens in four steps:

  • 1

    Simulation and Digital Twin: A virtual representation of the EnergyHub maps out assets, grid constraints, and energy flows.

  • 2

    AI-driven optimisation: Alice continuously determines the optimal deployment of batteries, PV, and charging infrastructure, considering price fluctuations and grid capacity.

  • 3

    Stakeholder management: Businesses within the EnergyHub can set their own strategies and align energy usage intelligently.

  • 4

    Real-time monitoring and control: The EMS dashboard provides live insights and dynamically adjusts energy deployment in response to market changes.

In this blog, we explore how this approach makes EnergyHubs more efficient and why an AI-driven strategy is essential for future-proof energy management.

Learn more about Alice?

An optimally managed EnergyHub in 4 steps

1. Simulation and Digital Twin: the foundation of an efficient EnergyHub

Before an EnergyHub becomes operational, it is crucial to understand how all energy assets interact. Without this insight, grid constraints, misalignment of energy usage, and inefficiencies can arise.

This is why managing an EnergyHub starts with a Digital Twin: a virtual representation of the physical energy flows and constraints within the hub.

How does a Digital Twin work?

A Digital Twin maps the entire EnergyHub based on:

  • Historical quarter-hour data: Analysis of energy generation and consumption patterns.
  • AI-driven predictions: Alice calculates future demand, energy prices, and grid constraints.
  • Stakeholder configuration: Each company within the EnergyHub can set its own strategies and constraints.

By combining data and AI-driven analysis, different scenarios can be tested, such as:

  • What happens if additional charging infrastructure is added?
  • How much battery capacity is needed to prevent grid congestion?
  • How can the EnergyHub stay within the allowed grid capacity without operational limitations?
Practical illustration

In an EnergyHub with five companies, the combined contract capacity was 2,350 kW, while the grid operator only provided 1,750 kW. Without smart management, this limit would regularly be exceeded, leading to penalties or operational restrictions.

Using a Digital Twin, different scenarios were tested to improve energy coordination among the companies. The simulations revealed that:

  • Smarter battery deployment could reduce grid load by 24%.

  • Charging hubs could be utilised optimally without overloading the grid.

  • Businesses could leverage flexibility by intelligently coordinating energy usage.

Based on these insights, the EnergyHub was configured to ensure the grid limit was no longer exceeded—without requiring businesses to adjust their operations.

2. AI-driven optimisation with Alice

Once the EnergyHub is operational, energy management must be continuously adjusted to market dynamics, grid constraints, and business needs. This is where Alice—the AI-driven optimisation algorithm within Tibo EMS—takes full control.

Alice operates fundamentally differently from traditional EMS solutions. Instead of relying on fixed rules or pre-set charging profiles, Alice uses microeconomic principles and real-time data to always deploy energy assets optimally.

How does Alice work?

Alice continuously analyses the current situation and optimises at three levels:

  • 1

    Dynamic prioritisation: Alice determines the best deployment of batteries, solar panels, and flexible consumers at any given moment. This is based on price signals, grid load, and operational constraints.

  • 2

    Real-time adjustments: Alice instantly adapts strategies when market conditions change. For example, if energy prices unexpectedly rise, Alice may decide to delay battery charging and sell the stored energy at a higher price.

  • 3

    Intelligent market integration: Alice can control assets based on FCR, aFRR, and mFRR, enabling batteries and flexible consumers to generate additional value.

Practical illustration

In an EnergyHub with a battery and a charging hub, Alice made the following strategic decisions:

  • During the day: The battery was charged with low-cost solar energy (€0.05/kWh).

  • Evening peak: Instead of immediately using the battery for local consumption, the energy was strategically sold to the charging hub for €0.

  • Dynamic adjustment: When an unexpected demand peak threatened to exceed grid capacity, Alice adjusted the charging strategy to prevent grid congestion.

This approach not only reduced costs but also generated additional revenue by leveraging market prices and flexibility.

🔜 The next step: Beyond energy optimisation, an EnergyHub must also account for multiple stakeholders and the distribution of costs and revenues. In the next step, we explain how Tibo EMS streamlines internal billing and stakeholder management.

3. Stakeholder management

An EnergyHub is not operated by a single user but consists of multiple companies or departments, each with their own strategies and interests. This means energy management is not just about optimisation but also about transparent coordination between stakeholders.

Tibo EMS provides a solution by:

  • Virtual pricing models – Each company within the EnergyHub can optimise energy usage based on its specific needs.

  • Hub-level management – A central administrator can optimise the EnergyHub without interfering with the business processes of individual parties.

EnergyHub Tibo EMS

4. Real-time monitoring and control

An EnergyHub is dynamic: energy prices change by the hour, grid capacity fluctuates, and business needs constantly evolve. Static configurations are not sufficient—an EnergyHub must be managed and optimised in real time based on the current situation.

Tibo EMS ensures that companies within an EnergyHub always maintain control over their energy management by:

  • Live performance insights: Companies and administrators can monitor energy usage, costs, and CO₂ savings per asset or stakeholder.

  • Automatic optimisation by Alice: Alice adjusts the energy plan every millisecond based on real-time data, with forecasts for the next 48 hours.

  • Proactive alerts: Alice detects grid congestion, price fluctuations, or inefficient energy use at an early stage and adjusts accordingly in real time.

How does this work in practice?

Alice continuously performs calculations and determines the optimal energy strategy without requiring manual adjustments. This means, for example, that:

  • Charging sessions are automatically shifted when prices drop or grid load decreases.

  • Batteries are deployed at the right moment for grid balancing when market conditions allow.

  • Energy consumption is dynamically optimised based on CO₂ intensity and grid constraints.

Practical illustration

Adaptive control of a charging hub works as follows:

  • Morning: Charging sessions begin, but Alice detects high grid load and automatically switches to a lower charging speed.

  • Afternoon: The battery is charged with low-cost solar energy, while Alice calculates when and where the energy will be most valuable.

  • Evening: Energy from the battery is optimally distributed between charging infrastructure and grid supply, precisely when market prices rise.

  • Night: Remaining battery capacity is fully automatically utilised for grid balancing, generating additional revenue.

The result?

  • Always the most cost-effective energy deployment, as Alice continuously calculates ahead.
  • No grid congestion issues or exceedances of allowed grid capacity.
  • Maximum utilisation of renewable energy with minimal waste.

Conclusion

Managing an EnergyHub goes beyond simply controlling batteries and charging infrastructure. It requires a system that looks ahead, adapts to market conditions, and strategically deploys energy assets.

Tibo EMS ensures that an EnergyHub doesn’t just function but performs optimally. With Alice, energy management is no longer a reactive process but a continuously optimised system that balances costs, grid load, and CO₂ emissions.

By combining simulations, AI-driven optimisation, transparent stakeholder management, and real-time control, businesses can:

  • Do more with less grid capacity, without operational limitations.

  • Strategically deploy batteries, PV, and charging infrastructure for maximum value.

  • Independently exchange and coordinate energy with flexible and scalable management.

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