A Framework for Overcoming Data Accessibility Challenges in Urban Microgrids for Smart Cities

Smart grid-connected urban microgrids can prove crucial for integrating distributed renewable energy resources, reducing dependency on the utility grid, increasing the democratization of energy in the smart city, and enabling local energy exchanges, among other things. However, their success often hinges on accessing historical and real-time data from active prosumers. The challenge is aggravated when collecting this data from residential end-users. We have identified common hurdles in microgrid establishment and followed a standard approach to evaluate techno-economic aspects using data from existing wind turbines. To address these obstacles and foster microgrid growth, we propose an innovative, interoperable framework leveraging cutting-edge IT solutions. Proposed framework is capable of mitigating the documented challenges and facilitating easy access to desired energy data, thereby enhancing the viability and attractiveness of microgrids for private investors.