Helmholtz Association Funds €32.8M High Power Grid Lab for Energy Transition
The Helmholtz Association's strategic investment funds have allocated 32.8 million euros for the construction of the High Power Grid Lab (HPGL) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). This lab will be part of the Energy Lab and is expected to go into operation in 2030. The HPGL involves multiple institutes at KIT and national/international industrial companies, grid operators, and research institutes for the energy transition.
The HPGL will use specifically developed medium-voltage emulators that can emulate AC networks up to 20 kilovolts and DC networks up to 35 kilovolts without transformers, up to a power of 40 megavolt-amperes. This will allow for real-world testing of innovative power electronic components for medium-voltage networks. The lab will focus on low and medium voltage grids for regional power distribution, investigating the system behavior of novel grid components such as voltage-source converters for medium-voltage DC grids.
The HPGL aims to develop and test these components under real conditions, contributing to the increasing decentralized power inputs from renewable sources that are replacing central power plants. The Smart Energy System Simulation and Control Center at KIT combines real-time simulation and medium-voltage network emulators for thorough testing of power grid components, making it an ideal location for the HPGL.
The HPGL, funded with 32.8 million euros, will provide a unique test platform for innovative power electronic components in medium-voltage networks. Its operation in 2030 will support the energy transition by enabling real-world testing of novel grid components, contributing to the increasing use of renewable energy sources.
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