EOSG

The fundamental transformation of the German energy landscape as part of the energy turnaround is associated with a considerable increase in volatile feed-in from decentralized energy generation units into the distribution grid. This change causes bidirectional load flows at the low and medium voltage levels and new challenges arise in the distribution networks. Normative limits regarding voltage level and voltage quality must be satisfied while integrating the increasing number of decentralized generation units and storage facilities to guarantee a stable grid operation.

The Stadtwerke Bochum Netz GmbH offers a small distribution network section within the project framework for testing new load flow optimization algorisms. This section will be equipped with modern and smart components and thus transferred as a smart grid. An electronically controllable local substation transformer developed by ct.e – Control technology Engineering GmbH will be used. The Institute for Energy Systems, Energy Efficiency and Energy Economics (ie³) of the TU Dort­mund University contributes with its experience in researching and designing protection and smart grid automation functions as well as their implementation on standardized hardware platforms. Together, a control strategy will be developed that allows the optimization of the energy flows in the Smart Grid. This implementation requires detailed system analyses, computer-aided simulations, and in particular, highly complex stability considerations. Furthermore, the results collected in the project will be applied to the above-mentioned smart grid and tested concerning their effectiveness.

The energy flow-oriented control of the distribution grid components is intended in particular to increase the degree of utilization of the regenerative producers and thus to increase the proportion of regenerative feed-in energy in the German energy mix. This results of this research have direct and indirect effects on the emission of CO2 and other climate-relevant emissions.

Based on many years of experience in its research areas, ie³ has the necessary know-how to apply suitable methods for determining the grid state, to implement control algorithms, and to integrate them into the planned concept as a superordinate control strategy. Furthermore, the laboratories of the ie³ have the technical means to simulate analogue networks and to perform realistic network simulations in real-time. Thus, the ie³ fulfils the essential requirements for the simulation of the distribution network section, both in hardware and as a digital simulation model, to determine optimal measures for energy flow adjustment.

• Project Duration: 01/2018 - 11/2020