Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

Germany: Micro smart grid concluded in Berlin

Schneider Electric has collaborated with the Innovation Center for Mobility and Social Change (InnoZ) to complete a micro smart grid at the EUREF-Campus in Germany's capital city.

The smart micro grid in Berlin has been concluded.

Schneider Electric

The aim of the micro smart grid is to test the possibilities of energy storage with regards to renewable energy sources and electric mobility together. Schneider Electric consolidates its offices in Berlin in one of the newer buildings, number seven, on the campus since summer last year. 

The micro smart grid is an intelligent network that enables the interaction of various components and allows them to be tested. The components include five wind generators with an output of one kilowatt (kW), two photovoltaic systems on the roof of the building with about 20 kW of peak power each, and another solar system with a peak power of 7.5kW which incorporates a tracking system.

The excess energy generated is stored on campus with the help of a battery with a capacity of 3,000 Ampere hours. The stationary storage can take battery voltages of 48 Volts- to 144 kW-hours. The batteries of electric cars from e-Flinkster, the car-sharing initative implemented by Deutsche Bahn on campus, should be integrated successfully with the system. Thirty intelligent charging points enable electric cars to get charged.

Schneider Electric is using the Conext inverters to feed the generated solar power into the micro smart grid. Integrated XW-chargers/inverters couple the stationary stored energy into the grid. They control the energy storage and supply. EVlink stations provide the infrastructure for charging the cars. A comprehensive monitoring system regulates the energy usage in the building. A visualisation system for the operation of the smart grid completes the energy management by allowing the tracking and control of all current flows.

The building number seven where the company sits is scheduled to be recognised as the global leader for sustainabililty for its energy saving features with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certificate.