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The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) as ‘The Research University in the Helmholtz Association’ was created from the merger of the Karlsruhe Research Center (Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe) and the University of Karlsruhe (Universität Karlsruhe). The institutes involved in flexQgrid can draw on valuable experience in the interaction of energy technology (Institute of Electric Energy Systems and High-Voltage Technology (IEH)), power electronics (Institute of Electrical Engineering (ETI)) and energy economics (Institute for Industrial Production (IIP)) for future power grids.

The detailed, dynamic modelling of distribution grids as well as connected equipment is followed by the consideration of technical restrictions and control specifications by or during the request of flexibility. Interactions between equipment as well as harmonic effects and repercussions on the grid are to be investigated initially by simulation and emulated within a laboratory test environment in order to enable the development of suitable control algorithms.

The ETI is concerned with the development and modular design of a grid-compatible power converter that integrates various storage technologies, energy sources and loads. Using a communication interface, the request of flexibilities is tested. In addition, the dynamic behavior of the power converter while changing between traffic light phases as well as for non-standard grid parameters is investigated and tested in the laboratory.

Given an increasing share of renewable energies in the energy mix and new applications on the consumers’ (e.g. electric vehicles, heat pumps) and prosumers’ side (e.g. PV modules), avoiding grid overloads requires of different actors to provide flexibility. In addition to regulatory and economic aspects of providing flexibility for energy grids, the willingness of households as well as commercial and industrial companies to make energy flexibly available is investigated by means of qualitative and quantitative surveys. The aim is to develop suitable instruments to measure preferences of potential actors for providing flexibility and thus to deduce appropriate incentive structures.

Contact:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Leibfried

Kaiserstraße 12
76131 Karlsruhe

Phone: +49 721 608 42520
E-mail: thomas.leibfried@kit.edu

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