AGERAR_PLUS

Spain and Portugal share having an investment below the EU average in R&D, hindering the technological transfer from universities and research centers to the productive sector and reducing the possibilities of improvement in terms of competitiveness and wealth creation. These countries present high dependence on foreign energy and difficulty in integrating renewable energies, although the territories have remarkable renewable resources for wind and solar energy production. The wholesale electricity market is common to both countries, making it advisable to address jointly any decision related to the electricity market, renewable energies, and microgrids. Both countries are committed to transitioning to a more sustainable energy system, actively working to achieve these goals. To improve the situation, programs like POCTEP are very valuable and significant in boosting R&D, improving infrastructure, and being more competitive in science and technology capacities.

The overall objective set by AGERAR_PLUS is to harness the potential of cooperation to consolidate the innovative and scientific framework of both countries in the field of energy, following in the footsteps of the previous AGERAR and AGERAR II projects. By combining previous experiences and technological potential from both countries, it is expected to contribute to the improvement of research capacities in advanced energy technologies.

AGERAR_PLUS is focused on improving energy efficiency by promoting the figure of the small and medium-sized prosumer and energy communities through the use of information and communication technologies. The set of proposed activities begins with an analysis of application cases characterizing the technical framework, business models, and technical and economic viability. Tests will be carried out on storage technologies in existing installations, and resilient control algorithms will be developed considering fault tolerance and hierarchical structures. These techniques will be validated in existing energy platforms, as well as in the representative environment of Culatra Island in the Algarve. The project has a multidisciplinary partnership with remarkable experience, which will contribute to turning the set objectives into consolidated facts.