Getting smart with electricity networks – Information Centre – Research & Innovation

Europe is looking to boost its use of renewable vitality sources as a way of lowering emissions and to deal with worldwide warming. Having said that, integrating the likes of solar and wind electrical power into electricity grids continues to be a problem owing to fluctuations in source and constrained storage ability. This is an situation for electrical power system operators who need to keep safety of electricity provides to residences and sector.

Smart grids could offer an remedy. They embrace a vary of systems, programs and infrastructures that can aid handle electrical power distribution units more proficiently and intelligently. Although a lot of the research in this place has targeted on specific facets of intelligent grids, the EU-funded ERIGRID undertaking took a more holistic approach, drawing jointly the work of researchers from across Europe.

‘Our undertaking supports the technological progress and roll-out of intelligent grid methods, remedies and concepts in Europe by addressing system validation for intelligent grids,’ states undertaking coordinator Thomas Strasser from the AIT Austrian Institute of Technological know-how. ‘We are developing typical approaches, concepts and processes by bringing jointly 18 European research centres and institutions with superb research infrastructures.’

Serious-time simulations

ERIGRID’s Trans-countrywide Activity (TA) programme provided exterior groups free of charge entry to some of Europe’s best amenities. By undertaking near in April 2020, all over 70 groups of engineers and researchers had taken advantage of the programme. They labored on a vary of topics relating to intelligent grids and vitality distribution networks, such as ICT, automation systems, electrical power regulate hardware and production of new parts. The TA-backed initiatives had been also ready to check remedies as a result of authentic-time simulations.

Throughout six calls for proposals, the TA shipped results that will aid to develop intelligent vitality networks. For case in point, the ECOSMIC undertaking drew up an financial assessment framework for micro-grids. The results provided a pathway for the economical use of decentralised electrical power technology for urban residential electricity networks.

Meanwhile, the LCA undertaking produced a technological alternative that could cut down the electrical power industry’s reliance on an environmentally hazardous synthetic gas. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is extensively made use of to reduce small circuits but is regarded to be the most potent of all greenhouse gases. LCA’s alternative merged ground breaking sensor systems and dry air to insulate circuits as a substitute of applying SF6.

Open up entry applications

To complement the TA programme, ERIGRID labored to offer researchers and engineers with new know-how and applications in this fairly youthful topic place. ‘We are giving schooling and instructional elements that deal with a complete vary of challenges and fulfill essential requirements in the area of electrical power and vitality units,’ states Strasser. ‘And we are elevating awareness of the need to validate intelligent grids as a result of a wide collaboration with stakeholders.’

The undertaking ran common webinars, workshops and seasonal colleges to share abilities and best practice on topics such as electrical power technology solutions for intelligent towns and making responsible and secure digitalised vitality units. Many open entry and open source applications had been also produced, which are now offered as a result of the ERIGRID web site.

The provision of entry to superb intelligent grid and intelligent vitality units research infrastructures will continue in the ERIGrid two. undertaking in excess of the subsequent four several years.