Niederbobritzsch gets fit for the energy transition
Open day at the FlexNet-Eko research project
What will the distribution grids of the future look like? Interested citizens and school classes were able to get to the bottom of this question in Niederbobritzsch, Saxony. At the end of September, the container station with power-electronic grid coupling installed on site opened its doors offered the opportunity to get to know the new technologies. Experts from the research project "FlexNet-EKO" (flexibilisation of grid operation through decoupled local grids) explained the technical possibilities and answered all questions.
The quanitites of additional energy that will be transported through the grids in the future are tremendous. In particular, the decarbonization of the heating and transportation sectors will strain them in the years to come. Expanding the grids would be extremely cost-intensive, which is why making the distribution grids more flexible can provide a remedy.
The project is researching how flexible consumers and generators can be coordinated in the best possible way in the local grid, while at the same time ensuring optimal power quality, the burden on existing equipment and guaranteeing or even increasing the security of supply. In the field test in Niederbobritzsch, the developed technologies are now being tested under real conditions in the local grid with 230 households since October 2021 after theoretical laboratory tests.
Christian Mayer from Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen agrees that the current interim status is positive: "In combination with energy storage systems and modern converters, renewable energies can relieve the strain on the grids by allowing local electricity to be consumed locally and improve supply security by allowing the converter to act as a generator in the event of faults or work in the grid."
In this context, Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen is testing a power-electronic grid coupling with a grid-forming converter to stabilize load flows within the distribution grid, as well as battery storage units that store surplus renewable energy.
The test operation in Niederbobritzsch will end by mid-2023 at the latest in agreement with the municipality. Other partners are Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, MITNETZ STROM and TU Dresden.
