[E&E seminars] Today: From Smart Metering to Smart Grids

[Jameson Twomey]

 From Smart Metering to Smart Grids

Monday, February 8th

4:00p-5:00p

E19-439H
(400 Main Street, Cambridge; 4th Floor across Main Street elevator)

Speakers:
Dr. Christof Wittwer
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems
Group Leader, Control Devices BSR (control systems for distributed  
generation)

Dr. Günther Ebert
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems
Department Head, Electrical Energy Systems”

Abstract:
This talk will highlight the changing nature of the German power  
grid.  The German system is on the move from a centralized to a  
decentralized structure. In order to reduce CO2 emissions and to  
address the finite nature of fossil energy resources, renewables such  
as solar power plants, wind power plants and cogeneration plants are  
widely installed across Germany and Europe. The immense expected  
expansion of renewable and decentralised energy systems will generate  
a high supply of fluctuating energy in the prospective grid. By taking  
a look on Germany, the Association for Electrical, Electronic &  
Information Technologies VDE is convinced that the necessity expansion  
of the grids can be delayed or even avoided by using controllable  
decentralized power plants and/or storage systems.  Energy supply  
cannot always meet the demand curve. Therefore, it is necessary to  
implement adjustable load and/or storage systems. From 2011 on, German  
customers of household electric connections have the right to claim  
for demand or time variable tariffs. These tariffs should provide an  
incentive to safe energy and shift the energy demand to the time of  
production. Handling of these tariffs can be easily implemented with  
smart electric meters, since they are able to show actual demand and  
time of use. Based on this metering infrastructure local optimization  
algorithms can be used to support the so called smart grid.  Also a  
short overview of the activities in the field of electromobility in  
Germany will be also given and some projects of Fraunhofer ISE in this  
field will be presented.

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