Digital Grid Lab

In our Digital Grid Lab we can model distribution grids in the power range up to 800 kVA for low voltage with our new power-hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) simulator. The grid state and the digital communication system are simulated in the HIL system. This allows us to evaluate operational decisions and system changes beforehand.

The development environment allows the most modern control components to be designed e.g. on the basis of artificial intelligence. The control desk allows grid operation to be monitored and visualized and offers the connection with a digital twin grid (PHIL). 

With our powerful hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulator we model your decentralized energy system or power grid in a detailed form. Depending on the situation, we emulate parts of it in the laboratory with our power-HIL environment or integrate external signals via our grid control center. This allows us to evaluate operational decisions (e.g. switching operations) or system changes in advance.

Power-HIL tests simulate any grid connection points with power amplifiers in the laboratory. They allow the detailed investigation of e.g. switch-on processes or mains synchronization with grid simulators of up to 800 kVA.

The grid control center offers bidirectional connection of external systems with all typical communication standards.

For the conception and implementation of smart metering solutions, we offer an extensive test infrastructure as well as technical consulting services. Our experts work closely with SMGW manufacturers, gateway administrators (GWA) and distribution network operators (DSOs).

We support you during development and commissioning and integrate your components for interoperability and functional tests into our laboratory infrastructure or provide remote access depending on the application.

Before use at customers or in the field, you can test the electrical components (e.g. for intelligent household appliances) and controllers (e.g. energy management systems) developed by you under flexible connection and application conditions with us. With regard to their real behavior under different power system conditions, their effect on the power grid, and their reliability with different communicative connections (different protocols) will be evaluated.

For this purpose, we create a real test environment for you with our PHIL equipment and develop meaningful test scenarios together with you, which simulate normal use cases, but also real hardship cases.

These tests are rounded off by communication and conformity tests for various energy technology components.

Electromobility is one of the core technologies for decarbonizing personal transportation. Energy scenarios foresee up to 40 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2045. Assuming a wallbox with 11 kW for each vehicle, this corresponds to 440 GW of connected load. To put this into perspective, this is 5 times today's peak electrical load.

This makes it clear that smart or more precisely controlled charging is essential for the success of the energy transition. This can only work if all communication interfaces around the charging infrastructure are compatible with the vehicle and the power grid. In the Digital Grid Lab, we are realizing these tests with our digital vehicle twin ev twin.