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

Europe is wanting to maximize its use of renewable vitality sources as a way of lessening emissions and to tackle world warming. Even so, integrating the likes of solar and wind electricity into electricity grids stays a challenge because of to fluctuations in supply and minimal storage ability. This is an concern for electricity program operators who need to have to sustain safety of electricity supplies to houses and business.

Clever grids could offer an response. They embrace a variety of technologies, applications and infrastructures that can support handle electricity distribution programs extra correctly and intelligently. Even though considerably of the study in this area has targeted on precise areas of clever grids, the EU-funded ERIGRID task took a extra holistic approach, drawing alongside one another the function of scientists from across Europe.

‘Our task supports the technological enhancement and roll-out of clever grid approaches, answers and concepts in Europe by addressing program validation for clever grids,’ suggests task coordinator Thomas Strasser from the AIT Austrian Institute of Technological innovation. ‘We are creating popular approaches, concepts and procedures by bringing alongside one another 18 European study centres and institutions with superb study infrastructures.’

Authentic-time simulations

ERIGRID’s Trans-nationwide Action (TA) programme offered external groups free of charge access to some of Europe’s ideal facilities. By task close in April 2020, all over 70 groups of engineers and scientists experienced taken edge of the programme. They labored on a variety of topics relating to clever grids and vitality distribution networks, like ICT, automation technologies, electricity control hardware and creation of new components. The TA-backed initiatives were also in a position to test answers through actual-time simulations.

Throughout six calls for proposals, the TA sent effects that will support to acquire intelligent vitality networks. For illustration, the ECOSMIC task drew up an economic assessment framework for micro-grids. The conclusions presented a pathway for the economical use of decentralised electricity generation for city household electricity networks.

Meanwhile, the LCA task developed a technological answer that could lessen the electricity industry’s reliance on an environmentally harmful artificial fuel. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is extensively utilised to avoid limited circuits but is considered to be the most strong of all greenhouse gases. LCA’s answer combined impressive sensor technologies and dry air to insulate circuits alternatively of working with SF6.

Open access applications

To enhance the TA programme, ERIGRID labored to offer scientists and engineers with new know-how and applications in this somewhat young matter area. ‘We are providing teaching and academic materials that address a full variety of troubles and meet up with necessary desires in the domain of electricity and vitality programs,’ suggests Strasser. ‘And we are elevating awareness of the need to have to validate clever grids through a broad collaboration with stakeholders.’

The task ran common webinars, workshops and seasonal faculties to share know-how and ideal apply on topics this kind of as electricity generation choices for clever towns and developing responsible and safe digitalised vitality programs. Various open access and open resource applications were also developed, which are now readily available through the ERIGRID site.

The provision of access to superb clever grid and clever vitality programs study infrastructures will go on in the ERIGrid two. task about the upcoming 4 a long time.