Current Innovation Project
However, the increase in recent years in the feed-in of renewable energies to the grid has led to greater frequency fluctuations, which translates into a greater need for technical balancing mechanisms. APG is addressing the problem by developing intelligent assistance systems for power grid operations, akin to the ABS technology developed for modern cars. The “ABS for the power grid” project involves research on an intelligent battery storage system that can help automatically maintain the grid frequency. Battery storage systems are becoming increasingly important in the supply of energy in that they enable electrical energy to be stored. The available technology in this field is already relatively far advanced. What is new is the concept of using battery storage systems to make system services available to grid operators in the short term.
Just as anti-lock braking systems are used in cars as a type of active safety system, battery storage systems make use of intelligent algorithms to identify within seconds any frequency variations that the technical mechanisms in place are unable to compensate for. The idea is for the storage system to work fully automatically to stabilise the grid. “ABS for the power grid” is the only project of its kind in Europe, and aims to provide the basis for technologically neutral solutions.
Project facts
EUR 2.6 million (excluding the battery storage units), EUR 1.8 million of which is subsidised through the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund as part of its energy research programme