The adoption of direct current (DC) electric energy distribution systems has proven to be an excellent opportunity to significantly increase the energy efficiency in buildings and, simultaneously, to accomplish the ambitious objectives defined by European Directives, concerning energy policy.

To ensure the successful deployment of DC electric energy distribution systems at homes and offices, guaranteeing the high reliability of all the components involved in the DC electric energy distribution system, presents utmost importance.

The main objectives and results linked to the Ef&RelDC@HomO project comprise the broad promotion of DC technology in residential buildings and offices, along with the development of efficient and reliable solutions for the individual components that play a vital role in the DC electric energy distribution system.

The results of the project constitute cornerstones to the implementation of the proposal presented herein. On the one hand, the project promoted the specialisation of the research team in DC technologies like DC protection devices, energy storage technologies and fuel cell technologies. On the other hand, the project enabled the deployment of key technologies, with enhanced efficiency, fault tolerance and robustness, that can now be integrated into a fully functional DC microgrid, whose operation is supported through three distinctive energy vectors (electricity, hydrogen, and thermal energy). So far, most of the technologies developed in the framework of the former project were designed and tested for their operation as individual units, decoupled from a coordinated DC microgrid.