Around One Million Euros in EU and State Funding for the Development of a Sustainable Power Grid
Research team at Chemnitz University of Technology works on a sustainable and smart electrical infrastructure based on hydrogen technologies
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The stability requirements for hydrogen systems can be tested in the laboratories of Chemnitz University of Technology. Photo: Jacob Müller
The Development Bank of Saxony (Sächsische Aufbaubank, SAB) is funding the HZwo: StabiGrid project at Chemnitz University of Technology with around one million euros (964,608.88 euros). The funds are provided by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Free State of Saxony until the end of 2024.
The aim of the project is to integrate hydrogen systems into the power grid. Two main goals are being pursued - to reduce the risk of grid failures and to make a positive contribution to the energy transition through the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier.
Seven professorships from three faculties of Chemnitz University of Technology are involved in the HZwo: StabiGrid project:
- Professorship of Power Systems and High-Voltage Engineering (Head: i. A. Dr. Jens Teuscher)
- Professorship of Electrical Energy Conversion Systems and Drives (Head: Prof. Dr. Ralf Werner)
- Professorship of Automatic Control and System Dynamics (Head: Prof. Dr. Stefan Streif)
- Professorship of Measurement and Sensor Technology (Head: Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun)
- Professorship of Advanced Powertrains (Head: Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth)
- Professorship of Technical Thermodynamics (Head: Prof. Dr. Markus Richter)
- Professorship of Corporate Environmental Management and Sustainability (Head: Prof. Dr. Marlen Gabriele Arnold)
The project is coordinated by Dr. Farhad Safargholi, research assistant at the Professorship of Power Systems and High-Voltage Engineering.
"In order to ensure grid stability in the context of the energy transition, we are investigating the capacity requirements of green hydrogen-based energy storage systems in comparison to conventional storage systems. Specifically, we are focusing on the ability of hydrogen systems and their power converters to meet the requirements of power grids with more than 80 percent renewable energy. This allows us to provide a fundamental contribution to the development of power converters for renewable energies. In addition, our junior research group will develop guidelines to describe the risk of grid instability for different combinations of power generation plants and energy storage systems with grid-following or grid-forming inverters," Safargholi explains.
In addition to research, the team will also focus on technology transfer. Together with the Saxon Competence Center for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology, suitable formats will be developed and cooperations with industrial partners will be established.
For further information, please contact Dr. Farhad Safargholi, tel. +49 (0)371 531-31926, e-mail farhad.safargholi@etit.tu-chemnitz.de.
(Author: Matthias Fejes / Translation: Brent Benofsky)
Matthias Fejes
07.02.2023
