Smart Grids

06.09.2011

Smart grids are one of the technical challenges of the coming years. For the “Internet of Energy”, energy production, energy storage and energy consumption must be coordinated. The automation and communication technology superimposed on the classic energy networks is a typical area of application for telematics.

Definition

Smart Grids = Electrical infrastructure + communication + automation technology

Smart Grids = Electrical Infrastructure + Telematics

(Source: Paul K. Houpt, Principal Scientist GE Globar Research (USA), Plenary Lecture IFAC World Congress Milan 2011)

Challenges

• Prediction of the variable feed-in from renewable energy sources (wind, sun)
• Tolerance with regard to transient interference
• Compliance with the tolerance ranges for
• Voltage
• Frequency
• Modelling of the complex, widely distributed overall control system (comprising producer, consumer, storage)
• Prediction of delays in the system and their compensation
• Link to market mechanisms of the energy exchanges
• complex automation tasks for distributed control systems
• this information must be collected, communicated and responded to in real time
• advanced telematics systems required

ZfT skills

The ZfT was able to participate in a broad spectrum of international and national telematics projects

• in industrial production (e.g. ReTraRo, SMART)
• in environmental monitoring (e.g. EU project bees/robot vehicles)
• in medicine (e.g. BMBF top cluster “Medical Valley”)
• in space travel (e.g. ESA project ground station networks, NaKoFo, micro satellite networks)
• develop advanced solutions in the areas relevant for “Smart Grids”.

Remote sensor data acquisition: Smart Meter

• Distributed control systems
• Control under high latency conditions
• Interaction of communication and control systems in real-time critical situations
• Efficient human-machine interfaces for remote control

Contact

For further information please contact us at: