DOMINOES (Smart Distribution Grid: A Market Driven Approach for the Next Generation of Advanced Operation Models and Services) is a research and innovation project that has developed a transparent and scalable local energy market solution proposing innovative demand response services, as well as new models for energy resources' aggregation, grid management, and peer-to-peer (P2P) trading. The consideration of the distribution system operator (DSO) and ICT components to enable dynamic and active grid management is a cornerstone of the project.

The overall DOMINOES solution aims to improve energy efficiency, increase the share of renewable sources and enable consumers to play a more active role in the new paradigm of power and energy systems. One key feature of DOMINOES that distinguishes the project from other similar solutions, is the design of a market mechanism that enables market players to utilize the energy resources efficiently and with access to all levels of value sharing (taking into account the interoperability with current energy markets).

The results are validated in sites in Portugal and Finland, with different characteristics to test DSO, virtual power plants, and microgrids energy and flexibility services.

ISEP, as a research organization, played a key role in DOMINOES mainly in the development of demand response (DR) models by leading the WP3 "Local market enabled demand response". From the project activities, 67 models with their respective applications have been developed considering contextual DR, P2P DR, DR for DSO, and effective practical DR.

In addition, ISEP disseminated project achievements in 16 journal articles, 24 international conference publications, and one edited book on local electricity markets. The knowledge obtained and the lessons learned during the execution of DOMINOES will shape the path for the implementation of future energy markets in which end-users play an active role in increasing the share of renewables and the energy efficiency of the system as a whole.

Starting in October 2017 and finishing by June 2021, DOMINOES is coordinated by Enerim and supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 and counts with the participation of eight partners from four different countries (Finland, Portugal, Spain, and the UK), with a good balance between academia/research organizations (CNET, ISEP, LUT, UoL, USE) and commercial companies (Enerim, EDPD, VPS).