Project Description

The energy sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation characterized by digitalization and the energy transition. The decentralization of the energy system, the connection of new electrical consumers such as e-vehicles or heat pumps, and the growing share of volatile renewable energy generation are leading to new challenges, especially in distribution grids. The impact on the grid is difficult to forecast. In addition, no measurement data is available for large parts of the medium and low-voltage grid. The use of smart meters and controllable components (smart grid) can close this gap. At the same time, a disproportionately higher flood of data must be managed than in the high-voltage grid. This is where AI systems make a valuable contribution.

The main topic, "AI-supported planning and operation of electric power supply networks," of the AI Production Network deals with planning and operating reliable, flexible, and resilient electric power supply networks using many data streams (such as smart meters or smart grids).

In the GA³IA project (Power Grid Analysis for Asset Management via Artificial Intelligence Applications), a model is being developed to predict the state of the medium-voltage grid. With the help of statistical methods from machine learning and, in particular, artificial neural networks, the calculations of local grid utilization will be improved, and critical states can be detected earlier.

Possible Fields of Wok for Final Theses, Seminar Research Projects and Activities as a Student Assistant

• Participation in the development of the network state estimation model
• Application and comparison of different AI applications for load profile analysis
• Evaluation and processing of simulation and measurement results

Further Information (in German):

• Research Project GA3IA
• KI-gestützte Planung und Betrieb von elektrischen Energieversorgungsnetzen

Participating Project Partners

• LEW Verteilnetz GmbH
• SWM Infrastruktur GmbH & Co. KG
• Stadtwerke Neuburg an der Donau

Objectives of the LINDA 2.0 research project

• (Partially) automate the LINDA concept for the event of a large scale blackout; an emergency supply of critical infrastructures is possible with significantly reduced manpower.
• Develop a concept for optimized voltage control during the operation of local island grids.
• Apply the LINDA concept to emergency power systems and use this deployment to generate basic knowledge for emergency islands and network restoration. In addition, the database can be used to gain knowledge about the behaviour of (inter-connected) grids in the extended frequency range.

System stability analyzes

By means of an emergency power supply units (EPSU) with load bank, various real low-voltage grids are stimulated during emergency power operation in order to determine the frequency and voltage-dependent behavior of loads and generators at different times of the day and year, different PV penetrations and different weather conditions.

Subsequently, the effects of converter-based loads and generating plants on the system stability can be examined with further analyzes. Finally, recommendations and assessments are given as to the extent to which possible parameter changes of converter-based loads and generators positively influence the overall system behavior of local island networks.

Cluster analysis

During the cluster analysis different infrastructures are analyzed regarding their electrical behaviour and power demand. In further investigations requirements for the black start unit are derived.

Critical infrastructures can differ greatly in terms of the equipment to be supplied, load steps, etc., which results in different demands on the load switching capability of the grid-forming power plants. The various load structures are analyzed and clustered in expert discussions and with the help of a questionnaire to the operators of critical infrastructure. In addition, measurements are carried out on relevant equipment. Subsequently, requirements for grid-forming power plants for emergency supply islands with various critical infrastructures can be derived.

Final theses on the topic of isolated grids

As part of the research project LINDA 2.0, topics for final theses (bachelor's, master's theses, MAPR studies) are continuously assigned. If you are interested, or for more detailed information, please contact one of the two contact persons below or Prof. Michael Finkel.

Participating project partners

• Hochschule Augsburg
• Technische Universität München
• Zweckverband Landeswasserversorgung
• KIMA Automatisierung, Gesellschaft für elektronische Steuerungstechnik und Konstruktion mbH
• LEW Wasserkraft GmbH
• LEW Verteilnetz GmbH
• AVS Aggregatebau GmbH
• Obere Donau Kraftwerke AG
• Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR
• MTU Onsite Energy
• Cluster Leistungselektronik

Project description

Based on the research project LINDA (Local Island Power Supply of Water Supply Systems with Distributed Generation Systems in Case of Large-Scale Blackouts), in which a concept for stable island network operation in the event of an emergency supply was developed, the research project LINDA 4 H₂O (Local Island Power Supply of Water Supply Systems with Distributed Generation Systems in Case of Large-Scale Blackouts) aims to refine the concept and transfer it to typical constellations of public water supply systems and biogas plant.

Project goals

The aim of the research project is

• to transfer the findings of the LINDA research project to other, more typical constellations of decentralized generation units and critical infrastructures;
• to put the methods developed in the LINDA research project to increase the load integration potential into practice;
• to generalize the LINDA concept to such an extent that transferable results and information on the technology and the costs for use in other water supply systems are available after the research project LINDA 4 H₂O has been completed;
• to use the knowledge gained in the pilot project to derive recommendations for action for upgrading the operating systems and for the stable setup and operation of emergency supply islands.

Central research fields

The main research areas in the project are:

• Technical and economic evaluation of the suitability of biogas plant for the emergency supply of drinking water supply systems
• Conceptional design and operational management of small isolated grids (microgrids) with decentralized generation systems and selective supply of sensitive consumers (voltage control, reactive power management, frequency control, active power management)
• Further development of the simulation software to simulate the dynamic network behaviour
• Determination of the load switching capability of the biogas unit as a grid forming power unit (possible load steps: P, Q) and development, testing of measures to upgrade the biogas unit (control, load bank concept)
• Development of protection concepts for microgrids with decentralized generation systems
• Transferability of the results to other locations

Further information on the research project LINDA 4 H₂O:

LINDA 4 H2O

Aim of the Project:

The project E-Motion-to-Grid develops innovative concepts for the integration of charging infrastructure in urban distribution grids, which are facing enormous challenges due to the electrification of the transport sector. The basis of the project is a measurement campaign to analyse the charging profiles and behaviour as well as the development of future scenarios with focus on business models. The scenarios for charging infrastructure are integrated in the simulation model of the distribution gird to identify optimal integration measures. Due to lack of space as well as complicated construction and approval procedures in urban areas the solutions need to be flexible, in near-term and cost-effective. One of these intelligent integration measurers is a battery storage system, which is installed in a large car park for load management at the gird connection point of charging stations.

Central Research Topics:

• Measurements in medium and low voltage networks using grid analyzers
• Creation of a simulation model
• Future trends in the fields of electromobility and power to heat
• Grid integration of decentralized generation plants and electromobility
• Derive recommendations for action for distribution system operators

Possible Fields of Work for Final Theses, Seminar Research Projects and Activities as a Student Assistant:

• Participation in the development of a simulation tool (simulation environment: DIgSILENT PowerFactory; MATLAB)
• Assistance in the evaluation of simulation and measurement results
• Development of future scenarios for urban distribution grids
• Other tasks on request

Project Partner:

• SWM Infrastruktur GmbH & Co. KG, Munich
• Technical University of Munich, Prof. Dr.-Ing. R. Witzmann
• Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Finkel MBA

Further Information about the Research Project E-Motion-to-Grid:

https://www.hs-augsburg.de/en/E-Motion-to-Grid.page

Aim of the Project:

The 110 kV network of an urban distribution network operator is to be completely redesigned using a "green field" approach.This means that all substation locations are fixed and the lines between the substations can be completely redesigned.The aim is to find networks that have a larger, maximum supplyable capacity (taking into account marginal parameters such as security of supply and flexibility in network management) than the currently existing network.

Aim of the Project:

As a result of the German energy transition, urban distribution network operators are facing immense challenges over the next few years. For example, new electrical consumers (e.g. region-wide supply of electric charging stations for e-mobility, battery storage systems, heat pumps for low-energy houses) have to be connected to the distribution network and the consumption structure is changing (e.g. due to self-consumption of the electricity generated by PV systems) but also an increased use of generating facilities for the provision of control energy (virtual power plants and load management). These new requirements must be taken into account in future when designing urban distribution grids. The innovative planning/operation concepts and intelligent technologies used in rural distribution networks can only be used to a limited extent in the city network, as they primarily target the low voltage grid. In the city network, however, the energy transition takes place primarily in the medium voltage network and on the consumer side.

The research project focuses on identifying the challenges arising from the energy transition specific to urban distribution grids.

Central Research Topics

• Evaluation and aggregation of existing data from different internal and external sources as input for the extension of MV/LV network models
• Creation of evaluation procedures for use in asset management
• Supporting preliminary studies for a research project in the area of data analysis and data interfaces

Project description

As a result of the German energy transition, urban distribution network operators are facing immense challenges over the next few years. For example, new electrical consumers (e.g. region-wide supply of electric charging stations for e-mobility, battery storage systems, heat pumps for low-energy houses) have to be connected to the distribution network and the consumption structure is changing (e.g. due to self-consumption of the electricity generated by PV systems) but also an increased use of generating facilities for the provision of control energy (virtual power plants and load management). These new requirements must be taken into account in future when designing urban distribution grids. The innovative planning/operation concepts and intelligent technologies used in rural distribution networks can only be used to a limited extent in the city network, as they primarily target the low voltage grid. In the city network, however, the energy transition takes place primarily in the medium voltage network and on the consumer side.

The research project focuses on identifying the challenges arising from the energy transition specific to urban distribution grids.

Project Partner:

• SWM Infrastruktur GmbH & Co. KG, Munich
• Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Finkel MBA

Further Information:

https://www.hs-augsburg.de/en/Next-M-Grid.page