Work Package 1 – Conceptual development of impact maximising ICT-to-Human ecosystem

In the first work package (WP) beneficiaries start with defining the elements and configuration of the PEAKapp ecosystem. This highly innovative development process combines completed and ongoing research with ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). The focus is on socio-economic and socio-technical research to optimally achieve the connection between human behaviour and an ICT-ecosystem to motivate consumers to use the system on the long-term. A fun app will encourage them to behave more energy efficient and energy saving and to make use of the most appropriate load shifts.

At a later stage, quantitative success indicators against the final outcome. Cyber security, privacy related security standards for the social network functionalities and the development of the software app and the back-end engine will be examined and defined.

Work Package 2 – IT-Ecosystem and Software Development

In this work package, PEAKapp partners implement the system specifications as developed in Phase 1. The key challenge is the development of the back-end processing engine, which is a central server. It is based on a software platform connecting the users with each other, facilitating their interaction with the energy provider and providing consumer access to the electricity spot market.

The front-end of the ICT-to-Human ecosystem is a smartphone or tablet app being customized and extended from an existing 1.0 solution. These will be provided by project partner GreenPocket. This PEAKapp ecosystem will be validated under real-life conditions in Phase 3.

Work Package 3 – Field Tests: ICT-to-Human ecosystem validation in real life conditions

The PEAKapp ecosystem will be tested in 2,500 European households over a 1-year timeframe. Behavioural science, success indicators and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) will be evaluated towards set targets under real-life conditions.

An additional 50 households will test the PEAKapp ecosystem interconnected to a smart home (building energy management) system. The sample design ensures applicability for the whole EU market – and even beyond.

Work Package 4 – Customer Engagement Analysis and Savings Impact Assessment

The data collected in WP3 is evaluated to assess the impact of the ecosystem by means of econometric methods meeting the highest scientific standards. Quantitative results about the performance of the system and the achievable energy savings as well as the activated load shifting potential are evaluated to identify further improvements of the PEAKapp ecosystem.

Work Package 5 – Market Uptake and Transformation, Privacy and Regulatory Framework

In Phase 4, a rapid market uptake for triggering both immediate energy savings for consumers and business opportunities for companies will be supported. Different mechanisms to remove barriers and establish rapid utilisation of PEAKapp will be established. These include legal security aspects with respect to privacy issues and consumer rights. Recommendations to amend current regulatory practice will be formulated as existing static grid tariffs are considered a major roadblock for an adaption of consumption patterns to fluctuating renewable electricity production. Additionally, a toolkit allowing electricity retailing companies a fast and uncomplicated assessment of the business case “PEAKapp” is developed to foster its roll-out to the market.

Work Package 6 – Ready-to-sign market uptake strategy and dissemination

Towards the end of the project first licensing contracts with energy utilities are planned to be signed. Besides classical dissemination, communication and exploitation activities, market uptake accelerators will be used.