Steinbeis Transfer Center Renewable Energy Systems

The Steinbeis Transfer Center Renewable Energy Systems deals with the two renewable energy sources offering the greatest potential – wind energy and photovoltaics – and works in this area in close collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology (Fraunhofer IEE) and e²n (the department of energy management and the operation of electric grids) at the University of Kassel. The Steinbeis Enterprise offers its clients the following services:

Advisory services and expert evaluations

• Expert reports
• Strategic consulting
• Placement of experts

Research and development with a focus on key areas of expertise

• Grid studies for technical and commercial evaluations
• Development of software and demonstration tools
• Measurement and testing
• R&D projects with partners in business and science

Training and continuing professional development

• Seminars
• Training

• Modeling of machinery, loads, and grids/grid equivalents
• Statistical and dynamic simulation of machinery and grids
• System services (voltage stability, frequency stability, grid restoration, operational management/bottleneck management/reactive power management), optimized operation
• Automated, optimized grid planning (operational, strategic)
• Grid studies for technical and commercial evaluations
• Tools for automated grid analysis and grid optimization
• Grid stability and resilient infrastructures
• Smart grids
• Grid integration of local providers and storage systems
• Energy management
• Plant optimization (design, operation)

• Optimization of energy infrastructures: The Steinbeis experts support Fraunhofer IEE with the development and implementation of TAZAN software at the Baden-Wuerttemberg distribution grid operator Netze BW GmbH. On behalf of the network carrier, this analysis and optimization software for grid infrastructures manages the automated drafting, calculation, and evaluation of a variety of possible solutions for expanding target grids.
• Analysis of infrastructure efficiency: When operating grids, energy is lost every time electricity has to be transferred. One important task is to ascertain how much energy is lost and pinpoint measures for enhancing efficiency. Germany already performs well in this area and achieves extremely low losses compared to many other countries. Working in collaboration with Fraunhofer IEE, the Steinbeis experts in Kassel conducted a detailed analysis of grid losses for the electricity distribution company Avacon Netz GmbH, based on a wealth of available grid information, GIS data, and readings.
• Standalone network operation with renewable energy: Given the transition to alternative energy sources, and in the interests of further improvements to the reliability of electricity supplies, there is a need to safeguard network operability during network-critical situations by turning to renewable energy sources. To this end, the experts at the Steinbeis Transfer Center for Renewable Energy Systems have been working with Fraunhofer IEE on behalf of the municipal utility company Städtische Werke Netz + Service GmbH (Kassel) with the aim of ascertaining ways to set up standalone operations by using a combined heat and power plant alongside renewable energy, especially nearby wind farms. This assignment is part of a research project called c/sells, which falls under a program funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy: SINTEG (German abbreviation for “Smart Energy Showcase – Digital Agenda for Energy Transition").

Steinbeis Transfer Magazine

• Editorial (Transfer 1/2019)
  
• Supporting the Energy Transition (Transfer 1/2019)
  Success stories from the energy industry