Below are the research projects which the DERlab office is involved in. For more information on the research activities of DERlab members, please see their individual member profiles.
Current ProjectsSuccess Stories
 | RISEnergy: Research Infrastructure Services for Renewable Energy The European Green Deal aims to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy with zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To achieve more efficient, competitive and cost-effective energy systems and devices, RISEnergy fosters a European ecosystem of industry, research organizations and funding agencies aimed at developing novel energy technologies and concepts. RISEnergy brings together a consortium of 69 beneficiaries from 22 countries: ERIC institutions, technology institutes, universities and industrial partners, to jointly improve the economic performance of technologies. Members of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) are establishing the core European ecosystem. |
 | PARMENIDES: Plug&plAy eneRgy ManagEmeNt for hybrID Energy Storage PARMENIDES aims to develop a new ontology with a focus on the electricity and heating domain for buildings, customers, and energy communities. One of the key objectives of PARMENIDES is developing a new ontology with a focus on the electricity and heating domain for buildings, customers, and energy communities. The project aims to support a number of use cases, and a new generation of innovative Energy Management Systems (EMS) will be developed. As a framework for the integration of the EMS, PARMENIDES will define an information and communication architecture, enabling an interoperable, reliable, and secure exchange of data and instructions. The 36 months project duration aims to fulfil these objectives. |
 | HyLeiT The joint project HyLeiT is part of the BMBF flagship project H2Giga, which deals with the series production and scale-up of water electrolysers. Within H2Giga, HyLeiT covers the interdisciplinary topic "electrical hydrogen system technology". Central research topics are cost-optimized system and power converter technology as well as the grid integration of electrolysis plants for the production of green hydrogen. Various model approaches are important tools within these research topics. We invite you to the workshop and look forward to exciting discussions. |
 | Smart Grid International Research Facility Network - SIRFN The Smart Grid International Research Facility Network (SIRFN) is a network of smart grid researchers with test-bed facilities in countries participating in the Implementing Agreement for a Cooperative Programme on Smart Grids (ISGAN). ISGAN-SIRFN’s collaborative testing and evaluation capabilities are meant to be leveraged by the international community to enable improved design, implementation, and testing of smart grids and their functionalities, including the reliable integration of clean energy technologies. |
 | eNeuron: Optimising the design and operation of local energy communities Local energy communities offer a decentralised and bottom-up approach to producing, managing and using energy. This makes them an optimal solution for energy islands in particular and for confined systems in general. Through this approach, renewables and other emerging technologies can be efficiently integrated into the energy network. It turns passive consumers into active prosumers while having the whole energy value chain cater for the needs of each community through innovative schemes and services. Local energy communities therefore stand to play a key role in the EU's climate-change mitigation strategy. They are, however, complex to design and roll out due to multiple stakeholders and a range of energy carriers such as renewables, transport, thermal, H2, storage and biomass. They may also take on various legal and business forms. To address these challenges, the 4-year eNeuron project will deliver a set of tools for optimising LECs which draw on pioneering technology and business models that will be tested in real conditions at four pilot sites across Europe. |
 | ERIGrid 2.0: Networking European Smart Grid Research Infrastructures The predecessor project ERIGrid addressed the system-level validation of smart grids, covering mainly electric power system, information and communication issues. The current ERIGrid 2.0 project widened and advanced the provided lab access in order to fulfil the challenging goals of the European Union towards a clean, secure, and efficient energy transition to face climate and energy challenges. ERIGrid 2.0 is a single-entry point for researchers active in smart grids, smart energy systems, and integration of renewables, as it offers free-of-charge lab access, as well as other advanced services, methods, and tools. |
 | Netzregelung 2.0: Grid control and stability in the interconnected German power system As the power system’s structure develops to a more and more inverter dominated grid, the power quality and reliability will no longer be based on synchronous machines, but system services are more and more being distributed among inverter based generation. In order to operate the future power system securely and stably, appropriate control algorithms and operation procedures have to be developed. Inverter systems can partially reproduce physical properties similar to those of synchronous generators. Netzregelung 2.0 (Grid Control 2.0) focuses on these tasks for the German part of the Central European interconnected grid and aims in developing robust control methods for grid forming inverters as well as proofing the stability for the inverter dominated grid. |
 | INTERPLAN: INTergrated opeRation PLAnning tool towards the Pan-European network The European Union (EU) energy security policy faces significant challenges, as we move towards a pan–European network based on the wide diversity of energy systems among EU members. In such a context, novel solutions are needed to support the future operation of the EU electricity system in order to increase security of supply also accounting for the increasing contribution of renewable energy sources. INTERPLAN is a project that aims to provide an INTEgrated opeRation PLANning tool towards the pan-European network, to support the EU in reaching the expected low-carbon targets, while maintaining network security. INTERPLAN will provide a methodology for a proper representation of a “clustered” model of the pan-European network, with the aim to generate grid equivalents as a growing library able to cover all relevant system connectivity possibilities occurring in the real grid, by addressing operational issues at all network levels (transmission, distribution and TSOs-DSOs interfaces). Find out more about the project and all public deliverables here |
 | ERIGrid: Networking European Smart Grid Research Infrastructures Intelligent power networks are urgently required to integrate the growing number of distributed energy sources and generators into our energy system. 18 of Europe’s top research institutions have joined forces in order to pool together their know-how and improve research infrastructures within the smart grid sector. Developing an integrated research infrastructure for smart grid systems is the target of the EU-funded ERIGrid - European Research Infrastructure supporting Smart Grid Systems Technology Development, Validation and Roll Out - project. Researchers from EU get assisted and free-of-charge access to the ERIGrid research infrastructure facilities in Europe through the provision of 21 different laboratories provided by the ERIGrid partners. |
 | NOBEL GRID: Addressing all aspects of energy distribution and retail market NOBEL GRID aims to develop, deploy and evaluate advanced tools and ICT services for distribution system operators (DSOs) and electric cooperatives, thus enabling active consumer involvement and market flexibility. Thus, this project also considers new demand response schemas and new business models for aggregators, energy service companies (ESCOs) and the integration of distributed renewable energy production. Through the dual-use of telecommunication networks and by validating the integration of distributed renewable generation and demand response systems, NOBEL GRID will offer advanced services not only for DSOs but to all actors in the distribution grid and retail electricity market in order to ensure that the consumers benefit from better prices, more secure and stable grids and the renewable electricity suppy. |
 | ELECTRA IRP: supporting long-term European research The ELECTRA Integrated Research Programme on Smart Grids brings together partners of the EERA Joint Programme on Smart Grids (JP SG) to reinforce and accelerate Europe's medium- and long-term research cooperation. Together, the JP SG and ELECTRA will establish significant coherence across national research efforts, critical for the stable operation of the EU power system of 2020+. |
 | Secretariat of the Smart Grids ETP Smart Grids European Technology Platform (SmartGrids ETP), supported by the European Commission 7th Framework programme, brings together key stakeholders from electricity networks sector, the network operators, generation, technology suppliers, research community, and regulators. DERlab joined the secretariat of the platform 1 October, 2012 and supports the activities especially by organising workshops with specific stakeholder groups to discuss smart grids R&D related topics at the European level. |
| NETZ:KRAFT: supporting grid restoration research in Germany In case of a blackout, transmission system operators are responsible for initiating the grid restoration process. This system service is currently mainly rendered by thermal power stations. With an increasing percentage of distributed energy resources in the grid, the application of the restoration process strategies faces certain challenges. The NETZ:KRAFT project aims to advance the development of existing processes and to define the role of renewable energy resources in the grid restoration process of the future. |
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| DEA-Stabil: Grid Support provided by Distributed Energy Resources The DEA-Stabil project is aimed at determining, evaluating and securing the stability of the German integrated electricity network for future scenarios. The project focus is set on the question of how to increase the contribution of distribution grid connected wind and photovoltaic energy systems to grid stability. As a member of the project consortium, DERlab takes care of networking and disseminating the project results on the international level and of developing recommendations for the further harmonisation of European grid connection requirements. The DERlab database of grid connection requirements for generators is accessible here and has been extended in the frame of the project. DEA-Stabil is a German research project running from April 2013 until March 2016 and funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) under grant agreement number 0325585B. |
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 | EEPOS: Neighbourhood level Energy Management and Decision Support Systems EEPOS - Energy management and decision support systems for Energy POSitive neighbourhoods - is a research and development project funded by the European commission under the 7th Framework programme running from October 2012 until September 2015. The EEPOS consortium aims at the realisation of the idea of energy positive neighbourhoods. The developed EEPOS system will be characterised by open interfaces to energy and heating grids as well as to local prosumers. As a member of the EEPOS consortium, DERlab leads the development of the EEPOS neighbourhood automation and management system basing on OGEMA. Find out more about the project and all public deliverables here |
 | STARGRID: Standards Hub for Smart Grid Industries STARGRID - STandard Analysis supporting smart eneRgy GRID development - is a collaborative coordination and support action funded by the European commission under the 7th Framework programme, aiming at the provision of a comprehensive analysis of the current standardisation efforts, considering also new industry developments and initiatives in the field. The project is carried out by a consortium of 5 partners from 4 European countries and will be running for two years (October 2012 – September 2014). |
 | COTEVOS: Developing Capacities for Electric Vehicles Interoperability Assessment COTEVOS – Concepts, capacities and Methods for Testing EV Systems and their Interoperability within the Smart Grids aims to establish the optimal structure and capacities to test the conformance, interoperability and performance of all systems comprising the infrastructure for the charge of Electrical Vehicles (EV). COTEVOS verifies the functionalities different systems require to manage EV charging and the associated smart grid infrastructure. The project is carried out by a consortium of 11 partners from 9 countries. The project duration is from September 2013 until February 2016. Find out more about the project and all public deliverables here |
 | PV GRID: Reducing technical barriers in PV integration PV GRID - Reducing barriers hampering large-scale integration of PV electricity into the distribution grid addresses the regulatory, administrative and technical barriers hampering the integration of PV into the electricity Distribution Systems (DS). PV GRID will continue the work of the project PV LEGAL which focused on the regulatory and administrative aspects. DERlab leads the technical discussions reviewing and evaluating the most appropriate technical solutions available for network and consumer side as well as for PV system side. |
 | EERA: Strengthening, expanding and optimizing EU energy research capabilities The European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) was established in support of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) plan of the European Commission. DERlab participates in the Joint Programme on Smart Grids that aims at addressing a medium and long-term research perspective for the accelerated smart grid development and deployment. |
 | The entry point for European DER research facilities DERri - Distributed Energy Resources Research Infrastructure provides free access to leading DER testing facilities for European researchers. External researchers can apply to use facilities of 13 European research laboratories - free of charge. The partners in the project consortium also conduct joint research activities. DERlab took over the lead of dissemination activities in July 2011. DERri is financed under the European Commission's FP7 Capacities programme. |
 | SOPHIA: The entry point for European PV research facilities SOPHIA - PhotoVoltaic European Research Infrastructure forms an umbrella over European photovoltaic research infrastructures. Having 21 partner institutes from 10 countries and covering the whole PV chain from materials research to PV systems, it strengthens the research cooperation around PV in Europe and enables more efficient use of laboratory infrastructures. As a project partner DERlab takes part in the work on PV module performance testing and also compiles a database of research facilities. SOPHIA is financed under the European Commission's FP7 Capacities programme. |
 | High PV penetration scenarios for International Energy Agency HiPe-PV - High-Penetration of PV Systems in Electricity Grids is a European Contribution to the Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme of the International Energy Agency (IEA PVPS) . Task 14 analyzes how PV penetration level can be increased by proposing improved prediction tools, improved inverter behavior, optimized grid management and optimized local energy management. DERlab will bring a European harmonized view on the current control and functional requirements for smart PV inverters. The activity will start in the spring of 2012. |
 | DERlab - The Network of Excellence (NoE) During 2005-2011, 11 research institutes from 11 European countries collaborated in the "European Network of Excellence of DER Laboratories and Pre-Standardization", supported by the European community's 6th Framework programme with the contract number SES6-CT-2005-518299. The cooperation led to the foundation of the association "European Distributed Energy Resources Laboratories (DERlab) e.V." in 2008. The final report of the project can be found in the Activity Report 2011 to 2012 [4.168 KB] of the association. Further information can found on these webpages, for example on Publications and Events. |