Providing researchers free access to European Research Infrastructures.
Challenge
The main goal of the ERIGrid project is to support the technology development as well as the roll-out of Smart Grids like approaches and concepts in Europe taking a holistic system approach into account. The ERIGrid project provides methods, concepts, procedures as well as the corresponding integrated research infrastructure for the validation and testing of Smart Grid systems, technologies and configurations.
The integrated system approach includes:
- Integration of distributed and dispersed generation managing the hosting capacity of power distribution grids at medium and low voltage levels
- Integration of energy storage systems into the distribution grids
- Operation of smart components from the grid point of view (e.g., smart secondary substations, smart inverter systems)
- Smart Grid IT/automation topics on the distribution level (including cyber security issues)
- Applications (e.g., coordinated voltage control, local voltage control, energy management, island capabilities – micro grids)
Project
Energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies are key enablers to manage the still increasing emission of green-house gases resulting in a global warming trend. Renewable sources, storage systems and flexible loads provide enhanced possibilities but power system operators have to cope with their fluctuating natures, limited storage capabilities and the typically higher complexity of the whole infrastructure with a large amounts of components. Additionally, due to changing frame-work conditions and technology developments like the liberalization of the energy markets, changing regulatory rules as well as new grid components, the design and operation of the future electric energy system has to be restructured. Sophisticated information and communication architectures, automation concepts, and control approaches are necessary to manage the higher complexity of such Smart Grids.
In the last European framework programs – especially FP6 and FP7 – various research and technology development activities have been performed in the domain of Smart Grids. Moreover, several demonstration projects have shown the applicability of the proposed approaches. In order to support the further technical development of as well as the largescale roll-out of Smart Grids approaches a proper Pan-European research infrastructure is necessary.
Outcomes
The project leads to the support and technology development like:
- Networking Activities (NA)
- International collaboration
- Collaboration with international DERlab partners NREL and Sandia National Labs
- Collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA) – ISGAN/SIRFN
- Standardized/harmonized validation and testing procedures for Smart Grid systems
- Dissemination and communication
- International workshops
- Trans-National Access (TNA)
- Provision of Research Infrastructure (RI), e.g., power system and simulation labs
- Joint Research Activities (JRA)
- Analysis of test cases and requirements for Smart Grid systems technology development and roll-out scenarios
- Interface identification and definition
- Simulation-based system validation (methods: pure software simulation, co-simulation, and hardware-in-the-loop), taking all Smart Grid aspects into account (power system, IT/automation, communication)
- Laboratory-based system validation
- Development of validation and test procedures