Work has begun on the KLASTER+ project at WUT

The project began in June 2026 and will run until May 2029. It will make a significant contribution to the development of science and technology in the fields of distributed energy, energy clusters and virtual power plants. The project will deliver new solutions for intelligent energy management at the interface between microgrids and the DSO grid. It also involves the development of tools for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of energy parameters at microgrid connection points to the DSO grid. Another important outcome will be the development and demonstration, in an operational industrial environment, of a new generation of field controller with innovative functionality, integrating control, diagnostic and forecasting functions. The project will also develop practical models for the operation of energy communities that can be replicated in different regions of Poland. A set of recommendations and guidelines will also be prepared for practitioners to support the effective implementation of modern energy solutions.

"The ambition of the project is to achieve significant technological advances in microgrid management by contributing to the development of modern, decentralised models for energy communities in Europe. The project outcomes will deliver systemic and organisational innovation, supporting the energy transition, the development of community energy and an increased share of renewable energy in the local energy mix," says Dr Tadeusz Daszczyński from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at Warsaw University of Technology, head of the KLASTER+ project. "The systemic innovation involves combining a technical innovation, a field controller with new functionality, with a social innovation, namely reducing the curtailment of renewable energy sources, which translates into lower societal costs of electricity. The organisational innovation involves an integrated approach to collaboration between academia and business, as well as improved management of microgrids and renewable energy sources."

The project will also result in the creation of an innovation ecosystem at the interface between microgrids and the DSO grid. The project leader (Warsaw University of Technology, CEZAMAT) will build this ecosystem by engaging Polish partners operating in the field of microgrids (ESA HUB Sp. z o.o. and EnH2O Sp. z o.o.), as well as a Polish manufacturer of field controllers and MV/LV switchgear (Elektrometal Energetyka S.A.). The project will also lay the groundwork for further technological projects bringing together academia, microgrid operators and industry.

"The implementation of the project will also help reduce energy poverty, which has a negative impact not only on those directly affected, but on society as a whole. According to the European Economic and Social Committee, meeting regional energy demand through renewable energy sources is a fundamental prerequisite for reducing energy poverty," Dr Daszczyński points out.

Living in homes that are inadequately heated or cooled, combined with the stress of being unable to pay energy bills, increases the risk of physical and mental health problems. People experiencing energy poverty can become trapped in a cycle of deteriorating health, in which physical and mental health problems exacerbate one another. Inadequate living conditions can make it more difficult to carry out everyday activities, such as working or studying, while visible signs of financial hardship increase the risk of social stigma. In addition, the use of less safe energy sources increases the risk of fires and the emission of harmful substances, reducing quality of life and increasing the risk of diseases, including cancer, within the wider community. By making better use of renewable energy, local communities can also become less vulnerable to fluctuations in energy prices on national and global markets.

Technical objectives of the project: autonomous control of RES microgrids integrated with the DSO grid

The main objective of the project is to develop and implement an innovative field controller providing the new KLASTER+ functionality, located at the point where the microgrid connects to the RES grid. More specifically, the new controller functionality will include two-way communication between microgrids and the DSO grid’s SCADA system. Combined with a zero-export algorithm implemented by the microgrid, this will enable autonomous control of local renewable energy sources, energy storage systems and loads within the microgrid, in order to meet the following requirements:

• ensuring that power parameters at the point where the microgrid connects to the DSO grid do not exceed the requirements set out in grid codes and DSO guidelines,
• preventing, reducing or eliminating the need to curtail individual renewable energy sources within the microgrid, as well as eliminating the need for the DSO to disconnect the entire microgrid,
• optimising the self-consumption of energy generated locally within the microgrid,
• improving the stability and security of the National Power System through communication between the field controller and the microgrid management system.

As planned, the solution developed as part of the project will achieve Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL 7), which means demonstrating and verifying a working prototype of the KLASTER+ field controller in a real-world microgrid operating environment, in cooperation with the industrial partners involved in the project.

An additional objective of the project is to develop a concept for an algorithm to detect islanded operation of a microgrid, intended for implementation in field controllers installed at microgrid connection points to the DSO grid. As part of the project, the solution is expected to reach Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL 4), which involves implementing the proposed algorithm concept and conducting basic verification in a laboratory environment. Achieving this objective could provide a basis for the further development of the field controller designed by the team, allowing the results of this project to serve as a starting point for subsequent research and development work (post-project exploitation).

Non-technical objectives of the project: social, economic and environmental impact

In addition to its strictly technical objectives, the project also has the following non-technical objectives:

• increasing public awareness and acceptance of microgrids by promoting the benefits of autonomous microgrid control and integration with DSO grids, in particular by educating local communities and the industrial and scientific communities about the efficient use of renewable energy,
• supporting national energy and climate policy by contributing to the achievement of energy transition goals, increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the national energy mix and improving the stability of the National Power System, as well as supporting national regulations concerning the integration of microgrids and smart distribution systems,

• enhancing the development and innovation potential of the national economy through the development of field controller technologies and smart energy management systems, thereby increasing the competitiveness of the domestic energy and technology industries through the implementation of innovative solutions and the commercialisation of project results,
• improving energy security and the quality of power supply by reducing the risk of power outages through minimising microgrid disconnections by DSOs, thereby strengthening the resilience of local energy networks to instability resulting from a high share of renewable energy sources,
• promoting cross-sectoral cooperation and partnerships by bringing together academia, industry and distribution system operators (DSOs) in research and development and implementation activities.

 A project based on cooperation and dialogue

The project team consists of researchers from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology: Dr Tadeusz Daszczyński (project leader), Dr Marcin Szewczyk, Dr Łukasz Rokicki, Dr Szymon Stoczko and Michał Połecki, as well as Dr Robert Wójtowicz from the WUT Centre for IT Services and Kamil Przygoda, a doctoral student at the WUT Doctoral School.

Members of the KLASTER+ project team

The project involves end users at every stage, including by making research results available on a dedicated website, through social media activity and publications aimed at different audiences. Participatory activities, public consultations and social dialogue will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience between the public, industry and the academic community, as well as help identify needs and mutual expectations in the context of the energy transition and the implementation of innovative solutions.

By pursuing both its technical and non-technical objectives, with the involvement of research institutions, microgrid operators and a manufacturer of grid infrastructure, the project aligns with the objectives of national strategic documents supporting the energy transition. It promotes cross-sectoral cooperation between academia, industry and distribution system operators, and supports the development of local energy communities, creating a sustainable innovation ecosystem for microgrids and DSO grids and laying the foundations for future technology projects.

"The project will increase awareness and public acceptance of energy communities by promoting the benefits of their autonomous control and integration with DSO grids, as well as by disseminating knowledge among local communities, industry and the academic community. It will support national energy and climate policy by contributing to energy transition, increasing the share of RES in the energy mix and improving the stability of the National Power System," notes Dr Daszczyński. "The project will enhance the innovative potential of the economy through the development of smart energy management technologies. It will also contribute to improving energy security and the quality of power supply by reducing the risk of power outages and strengthening the resilience of local grids to fluctuations in the energy balance."

The proposed solution goes beyond the current state of knowledge and technology by extending the functionality of the field controller to include intelligent data processing (edge computing) and by developing and implementing a method for the quantitative assessment of the microgrid status at the connection point. The practical application of this solution will help reduce the curtailment of renewable energy sources, thereby increasing the role of energy communities in the energy transition.

The project is financed from the state budget, with funding awarded by the Minister of Science and Higher Education under the "Science for the Development of Society" programme. Project No.: NdRS/SP/0189/2025/01; total project value: PLN 1,999,757.15.

More information about the project is available on the project website and on the YouTube channel.