The construction of an inner-city pilot route for superconductive cable has begun. The superconductive cable has hardly any electrical resistance. As a 10,000-volt cable, it can therefore transport just as much electricity as a 110,000-volt high-voltage cable. That saves space and simplifies the distribution networks. If the pilot project is successful, this can transform the electricity grids in urban areas.  more...

How can storage systems be optimally operated? How can the incorporation of renewable energies in the supply grid be supported? These questions are being examined in the "green2store" project. The aim is to unite decentralised storage systems in a virtual cloud and make them accessible.  more...

The "Future-oriented electricity grids" funding initiative gives new impetus for research in Germany. As part of the scheme, technologies and concepts for extending the grid infrastructure are being investigated. Three federal government ministers today gave the starting signal for the funding initiative. Researchers are invited to submit their project plans by 27 March 2013.  more...

In the "Smart Country" model project, researchers in Bitburg-Prüm were testing out the distribution network of the future. It is designed to respond flexibly to the increasingly decentralised generation of renewable electricity in the grid. For this purpose various operating resources were further developed: an optimised biogas plant, which controls the electricity supplied by the grid, virtually stores surplus electricity with an efficiency of 98 %. In addition, voltage regulators double the usable output capacity in the grid. The Eifel project successfully passed the field test after around one year.  more...

One year ago, the German government presented its new energy research programme entitled "Research for an environmentally sound, reliable and affordable energy supply". During this period more than 900 research projects were funded to the tune of 550 million euros. As one of the first measures to implement the energy concept, the programme aims to strengthen the technological bases for the energy turnaround. The four participating federal ministries have now drawn an initial balance.  more...

The electricity grid must also remain stable when subjected to short-term fluctuations between generation and consumption. In order to compensate for these, additional, secure levels of power are needed within several seconds to minutes. Until now, fossil fuel-fired power stations took on this task; in future, however, wind farms are to make an increased contribution to the compensation. A research project by the Fraunhofer IWES aims to develop a new method in cooperation with industrial partners.  more...

It is a core problem of the energy revolution: the fluctuating yields from renewable energy sources have to be integrated into the electricity supply without endangering its safety and economic feasibility. Here the Deutsche Bahn railway company provides a prime example: by 2020, the company intends to draw more than one third of the 12 billion kilowatthours it consumes each year from green electricity. Researchers have calculated that doubling the green electricity used today will increase the electricity costs by around five per cent. The German railway power grid is distinguished, however, by many unique features.  more...

Even in a remote village far from the public electricity grid there is modern everyday life with radios, washing machines and electrical appliances. In energy terms this is a “standalone” system. The electricity is supplied by a hybrid system that combines various renewable energy sources and an additional diesel generator, and is buffered with a battery system. An information and control network with a new operating system keeps the stand-alone grid (mini-grid) stable.  more...

Superconducting fault current limiters can contribute significantly to increasing the safety, availability and reliability of electrical systems in power stations. According to experts, they also have an important role to play in expanding the power grid. In 2009 at the Boxberg power station, a superconducting fault current limiter was used for the first time to protect its own power supply. Soon a next-generation superconductor system with optimized characteristics will be tested at the same site.  more...

The meter reader never rings the doorbell anymore. The Smart Meter sends the consumption data to the office by e-mail in real time. This intelligent meter is the starting point for the interactive network. The new standardised devices can do far more than calculate consumption totals. They act as control and information nodes. They allow the latest consumption data to be used to control machinery and electricity generation systems according to the supply of electricity and the grid load. They are essential if variable tariffs are to be used.  more...