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

Europe is seeking to improve its use of renewable energy sources as a way of reducing emissions and to tackle world-wide warming. On the other hand, integrating the likes of photo voltaic and wind electricity into electric power grids stays a challenge thanks to fluctuations in supply and confined storage ability. This is an problem for electricity method operators who have to have to maintain security of electric power materials to households and field.

Sensible grids could deliver an answer. They embrace a array of technologies, apps and infrastructures that can support manage electricity distribution methods extra successfully and intelligently. Although significantly of the investigate in this region has targeted on particular areas of wise grids, the EU-funded ERIGRID undertaking took a extra holistic method, drawing jointly the operate of scientists from across Europe.

‘Our undertaking supports the technological enhancement and roll-out of wise grid methods, methods and principles in Europe by addressing method validation for wise grids,’ states undertaking coordinator Thomas Strasser from the AIT Austrian Institute of Know-how. ‘We are building common approaches, principles and procedures by bringing jointly eighteen European investigate centres and establishments with fantastic investigate infrastructures.’

True-time simulations

ERIGRID’s Trans-nationwide Exercise (TA) programme provided external teams free of charge accessibility to some of Europe’s best amenities. By undertaking close in April 2020, all around 70 teams of engineers and scientists experienced taken gain of the programme. They labored on a array of topics relating to wise grids and energy distribution networks, including ICT, automation technologies, electricity management components and production of new elements. The TA-backed initiatives were also capable to take a look at methods by real-time simulations.

Throughout six phone calls for proposals, the TA delivered effects that will support to develop smart energy networks. For example, the ECOSMIC undertaking drew up an financial evaluation framework for micro-grids. The findings offered a pathway for the successful use of decentralised electricity era for city household electric power networks.

Meanwhile, the LCA undertaking produced a technological resolution that could reduce the electricity industry’s reliance on an environmentally damaging artificial gas. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is greatly employed to protect against short circuits but is considered to be the most powerful of all greenhouse gases. LCA’s resolution blended innovative sensor technologies and dry air to insulate circuits as a substitute of applying SF6.

Open up accessibility applications

To complement the TA programme, ERIGRID labored to deliver scientists and engineers with new awareness and applications in this rather youthful topic region. ‘We are providing instruction and academic elements that address a entire array of concerns and fulfill necessary requirements in the area of electricity and energy methods,’ states Strasser. ‘And we are increasing recognition of the have to have to validate wise grids by a broad collaboration with stakeholders.’

The undertaking ran normal webinars, workshops and seasonal educational institutions to share know-how and best exercise on topics such as electricity era possibilities for wise towns and creating trusted and safe digitalised energy methods. Various open up accessibility and open up resource applications were also produced, which are now obtainable by the ERIGRID web page.

The provision of accessibility to fantastic wise grid and wise energy methods investigate infrastructures will proceed in the ERIGrid 2. undertaking above the upcoming four years.