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

Europe is hunting to boost its use of renewable energy resources as a way of minimizing emissions and to tackle world warming. Nevertheless, integrating the likes of solar and wind power into electrical energy grids continues to be a problem because of to fluctuations in offer and confined storage capability. This is an difficulty for power process operators who need to sustain protection of electrical energy materials to houses and marketplace.

Sensible grids could deliver an reply. They embrace a array of systems, programs and infrastructures that can enable handle power distribution techniques far more proficiently and intelligently. Even though a great deal of the investigation in this place has targeted on particular features of intelligent grids, the EU-funded ERIGRID project took a far more holistic method, drawing collectively the function of scientists from throughout Europe.

‘Our project supports the technological enhancement and roll-out of intelligent grid approaches, solutions and principles in Europe by addressing process validation for intelligent grids,’ suggests project coordinator Thomas Strasser from the AIT Austrian Institute of Know-how. ‘We are building popular solutions, principles and treatments by bringing collectively 18 European investigation centres and establishments with outstanding investigation infrastructures.’

Serious-time simulations

ERIGRID’s Trans-national Action (TA) programme presented exterior teams no cost access to some of Europe’s finest facilities. By project shut in April 2020, all around 70 teams of engineers and scientists experienced taken edge of the programme. They labored on a array of subjects relating to intelligent grids and energy distribution networks, like ICT, automation systems, power management hardware and output of new elements. The TA-backed jobs have been also ready to examination solutions via real-time simulations.

Throughout 6 phone calls for proposals, the TA shipped results that will enable to create intelligent energy networks. For illustration, the ECOSMIC project drew up an economic evaluation framework for micro-grids. The conclusions delivered a pathway for the economical use of decentralised power generation for urban household electrical energy networks.

In the meantime, the LCA project designed a technological answer that could minimize the power industry’s reliance on an environmentally destructive artificial gas. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is extensively made use of to protect against short circuits but is thought of to be the most potent of all greenhouse gases. LCA’s answer blended ground breaking sensor systems and dry air to insulate circuits instead of utilizing SF6.

Open access instruments

To enhance the TA programme, ERIGRID labored to deliver scientists and engineers with new understanding and instruments in this somewhat youthful subject place. ‘We are supplying teaching and instructional materials that tackle a entire array of challenges and meet necessary requirements in the area of power and energy techniques,’ suggests Strasser. ‘And we are raising recognition of the need to validate intelligent grids via a broad collaboration with stakeholders.’

The project ran frequent webinars, workshops and seasonal colleges to share skills and finest apply on subjects this kind of as power generation choices for intelligent metropolitan areas and developing responsible and protected digitalised energy techniques. Various open up access and open up resource instruments have been also designed, which are now accessible via the ERIGRID web site.

The provision of access to outstanding intelligent grid and intelligent energy techniques investigation infrastructures will carry on in the ERIGrid 2. project around the following 4 years.