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...

It is planned to temporarily store surplus electricity from renewable energies using Power-to-Gas. This process uses electrolysis to convert the electricity into hydrogen, which can then be easily stored like natural gas. Although previous electrolysis systems have not been economically efficient. A new design should now enable the technology to be produced cheaply on a megawatt scale.  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...

At the Annual Conference of the Renewable Energy Research Association (FVEE) on 16 and 17 October 2012, scientists and industrial representatives presented innovations along with new strategies for their market introduction. In his opening speech, Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier emphasised that greater importance should be given to research and development in regard to the era of energy revolution.  more...

Redox flow batteries are considered to be a highly promising means for storing electricity from renewable energy for months. Researchers are currently developing the new technology for use on a mass scale. A project group has now succeeded in visualising the processes within the batteries.  more...

Intelligent control of thermal and electrical energy flows in buildings: researchers from Oldenburg in Germany are currently developing and evaluating concepts for a home energy management system that utilises the sun as the sole energy supplier. This makes it more economically interesting for homeowners to use their own solar power. The new system is designed to store the solar energy decentralised and control the energy flows across time.  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...

It is intended that renewables shall supply around 80 per cent of the electricity requirement by 2050. The German federal government's joint "Energy Storage" funding initiative is therefore supporting technological breakthroughs that lower costs and contribute to rapid market introductions. The three federal ministries for Economics, the Environment and Research have now given the start signal for 60 research projects in the energy storage sector. The programmes focus on two main areas: wind and hydrogen as well as batteries.  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...

Photovoltaic power can be used even when the sun is not shining with the help of a battery system that provides intermediate storage. The result is that electricity not consumed during the day can be used to light the house in the evening. Alternatively, an energy company can draw on this power when demand is high. For owners of photovoltaic systems, the option of consuming the power they generate themselves has become more attractive since the remuneration for self-generated solar power was revised as of 1 July 2010.  more...