Digitalization is playing an important role in the emerging practice of Building-to-Grid (B2G). However, the majority of the literature only covers either the grid side, the demand side, or the technical aspect of B2G integration, and an overview of the digitalization in B2G and the involved stakeholders is missing. To fill these gaps, this paper proposes a definition of the B2G ecosystem and provides an overview of the digitalization of the B2G ecosystem with six aspects (B2G goals and themes, B2G technologies, B2G data sources and data management, and B2G related stakeholders). This paper also discusses five emerging technologies (5G, IoT, big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain) and three main challenges of the applications of the emerging technologies in the B2G ecosystem (Security and privacy, interoperability and scalability, coordination, and dysfunctional emerging behaviors of collective intelligent controls). Lastly, this paper recommends future research directions in the Building-to-Grid ecosystem (especially ecosystem modeling and simulation), B2G’s role in smart cities, sustainability, resilience, and harmonization of the B2G ecosystem, and other emerging technologies in B2G.

Electricity grids are facing challenges due to peak consumption and renewable electricity generation. In this context, demand response offers a solution to many of the challenges, by enabling the integration of consumer side flexibility in grid management. Commercial buildings are good candidates for providing flexible demand due to their volume and the stability of their loads. However, existing technologies and strategies for demand response in commercial buildings fail to enable services with an assessable impact on load changes and occupant comfort. In this paper we propose the ADRALOC system for Automated Demand Response with an Assessable impact on Loads and Occupant Comfort. This enhances the quality of demand response services from a grid management perspective, as these become predictable and trustworthy. At the same time building managers and owners can participate without worrying about the comfort of occupants. We present results from a case study in a real office building where we illustrate the advantages of the system (i.e., load sheds of 3kW within comfort limits). Presenting a better system for demand response in commercial buildings is a step towards enabling a higher penetration of intelligent smart grid solutions in commercial buildings.

Replacing the traditional fossil-based electricity generation with clean renewable energy is critical to address carbon emissions and climate change in particular. Denmark has a particularly aggressive strategy for renewable energy generation. By 2020 50% of electricity production is to be wind based and by 2050 the goal is to have an energy production based entirely on renewable energy. Renewable energy such as solar and wind is subject to variations due to changing weather conditions. This requires additional balancing capacity and ancillary services in order to balance the grid for transmission system operators and distribution system operators and balance errors in forecasts made by balance responsible parties. By enabling the demand-side to adapt consumption to match power generation, we can address this in a cost-effective and environmental sound way. In this context, data centers are of special interest as they account for 500 GWh of consumption in Denmark or nearly 2% of the total electricity consumption. This paper performs an analysis on load management capabilities of data centers in Denmark based on the experiences in the U.S. We characterize the load management capabilities of the data centers based on their types, technology, and their application as grid management resources. Further, we identify demand-side entry barriers towards market participation. Our findings suggest that groups of data centers can offer dynamic load flexibility as virtual power plants, and thereby support the evolution of the Danish energy systems towards its 2020 and 2050 goals.