In future, electricity grids will have to transport large quantities of electricity from renewable energy sources fed centrally and decentrally. Plus, we need greater reserves, storage facilities and flexibility in the electricity market due to the fluctuating supply. In the „Modellstadt Mannheim“ project, a virtual energy marketplace is being developed for energy generators, consumers and grid operators. Customers can see the source and price of their electricity and influence them directly via the timing and extent of their consumption and the delivery from their own generation systems. This approach also includes gas, water and district heating.

The basic concept of the „Modellstadt Mannheim“ project, or „moma“ in short, is an intelligent energy organism of networked grid cells with equal rights. The symbol for this organism is a green tree leaf as a cell with its veins for transporting energy and information. The concept of an electricity grid for the future is based on this idea: Energy generated decentrally from wind, sun or cogeneration is distributed intelligently and consumed close to where it is generated. This system requires an electricity grid which not only transfers energy but also connects all parties involved via modern information and communication technology: electricity generators, consumers, storage facilities and the grid itself. Once a grid of this type has been installed, a kind of market place can be created, where a sophisticated price is formed from supply and demand. Consumers use an intelligent control mechanism to ensure that electricity consumption peaks when a lot of electricity is generated.

This control mechanism is installed at the customer’s premises on an ”energy butler” as one of a range of services, which can operate automatically for its owner. It also knows how much energy each device in the customer‘s building consumes, and when is the best time to wash, dry or clean dishes in the household, and – in future – to charge the electric vehicle. The energy butler is also responsible for using the energy in the customer’s building with utmost efficiency. As a result, it is the basis for a wide range of new energy services which allow customers to communicate with it locally using mobile devices, as well as when they are away. This system consisting of an intelligent grid and the energy butler allows the customer to influence the costs of their energy consumption by using large consumers automatically depending on the price level. This makes one’s own electricity consumption and the source of the consumed electricity transparent at the same time. That familiarises customers with their own electricity consumption, enabling them to intentionally act in an environmentally-friendly manner and change their energy use habits. This requires a powerful and rapid interaction of all components in the distribution grid. The moma uses a broadband Powerline grid for this, which transfers internet-based data over the electricity grid itself.