C/sells: Large-Scale Showcase in the 'Solar Arch' in Southern Germany

As one of the five “Showcases intelligent energy - digital agenda for the energy transition (SINTEG), C/sells aims to develop and demonstrate scalable solutions in large “showcase regions” for secure, economic and sustainable energy supply with high shares of fluctuating power generation from wind and solar energy. The solutions found are to serve as a model for wide implementation.

The showcase “C/sells” covers the states Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria and Hesse in southern Germany and focuses on “solar energy”. The emphasis will be on regional optimization of generation and consumption.

The core of the showcase is the demonstration of an energy system with cellular structure in which regional cells interact in superregional combination. The size of the cells varies quite significantly. For example, it is possible for such cells to be formed by individual properties or entire distribution grid areas. Each cell will first focus on its own subsidiary supply by balancing power generation and load as much as possible directly on site. The remaining energy balance is then exchanged with other cells in order to optimize the energy system overall. The cell groups thereby create an efficient and stable energy infrastructure.

Other central aspects of the showcase are flexibility incentives in distribution grids and managing flexibilities in the heating and mobility sectors.

The Fraunhofer ISE is involved in all core aspects of the project, including

• examining guiding principles and framework conditions, customer incentives and overall system assessment of the business use cases
• new forecast processes, flexibility management, inter-operation in infrastructure information systems
• conceptualization and simulation of coordination cascade across grids, regulation of microgrids
• intelligent energy management in properties and areas, integration of controllable loads, connection to market and grids
• grid bottleneck management through electric vehicles and smart meter infrastructure
• application in demonstration cells and evaluation of operation