The use of decentralised energy systems is leading to a fundamental transformation of the energy supply system. As solar and wind energy are fed into the distribution network, the direction of energy flow is changing with increasing frequency. The planning and operation of energy networks must adapt to these new conditions. Energy backflows lead to overloading of lines and transformers, and the voltage at grid connection points can exceed the permissible limits. For safe operation, therefore, significantly more measurement data will be required in medium- and low-voltage grids in future. Grid operators need direct access to the millions of decentralised energy systems. This further development of the electricity grid is known as the smart grid.
THU has been actively involved in the development and testing of smart grids for 10 years. The Smart Grids Laboratory provides a test environment for software and hardware in the loop analyses of smart grid components. The interaction of solar power, battery systems and flexible loads with smart meters, smart meter gateways (iMSys), control boxes (Controllable Local Systems) and the experimental distribution grid control room (SIEMENS SPECTRUM POWER 5) is being researched. In addition to the electricity grid, interactions with heat and gas grids are also being investigated and new business models based on smart grids are being developed and tested.
The research focus also deals with energy meteorology. In view of the increasing importance of weather and climate for the energy supply from renewable energy sources, it is becoming increasingly important to describe the interactions of the entire energy supply system with the meteorological boundary conditions as completely as possible. This results in a considerable need for the development of new measurement and forecasting methods to provide meteorological information specifically adapted to energy systems. This requires a highly interdisciplinary collaboration between meteorology, physics, ecology, engineering, computer science and economics in order to do justice to the diverse aspects and interrelationships of the entire energy system.
