Integrating digital building flexibility through sub-aggregator business model

The increased need for flexibility across system levels calls for new and efficient methods for harnessing flexibility within distributed fleets of small resources. For such fleets, it is essential to be able to utilize existing connectivity and backend systems, while building system-to-system interfaces towards flexibility markets. At the same, new roles within value chain appear. The sub-aggregator model seeks to present an integrated approach combining technical solutions, business logics and many practical aspects. While sub-aggregator model is applicable widely for different asset types, we focus on buildings in this work. Buildings represent around 40% of global energy usage and offer a great flexibility potential. In case of digitally modelled buildings, flexibility can be taken to a fully new level and improve the indoor conditions at the same time. This work is based on Europe-US collaboration between VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and University of California, Berkeley on the area of digital buildings and their better integration into flexibility value chains through new business models.