Smart grid demonstration project
December 18, 2011
Sixteen European partners from ten countries are now playing a key role in preparing for electricity distribution systems that can utilise more solar and wind energy.
A smart power grid and a range of financial benefits are encouraging 2000 electricity customers on the Danish island of Bornholm to reduce their power consumption when the wind is either too weak or too strong for the wind turbines on the island to work.
This is part of the demonstration project EcoGrid EU, a €21 million EU project that is being coordinated by SINTEF Energy Research in Trondheim. The project will see how far an electricity grid can utilise unpredictable sources such as wind and sun. The results of the project will be directly transferable to wind-power nations and to nations that are investing heavily in solar electric power as well as all countries that are planning “smart” electricity grids.
When a country develops a high capacity to produce solar and wind power, the usual assumption is that system operators will need backup sources that can quickly be switched on when there is no wind or when clouds unexpectedly shade solar cells. Back-up sources of supply to meet acute power-matching needs are expensive.
The usual assumption is that such problems must be solved, for example, via the use of gas turbines or power imports from other regions or countries.
Wind power provides 50% of Bornholm’s electricity. Customers in the project are encouraged to reduce their use of electrical appliances for short periods when the island’s wind turbines are out of operation due to weather conditions. This will reduce the customers electricity bill with the aid of an intelligent power system known as Smart Grids. An automated system will disconnect an agreed proportion of each customer’s consumption when electricity prices are high. The same system allows customers to raise their consumption (e.g. to charge an electric car) when prices are low.
Participants in the Bornholm project will have new electricity meters installed in their homes. The new meters on Bornholm will be able to see when customers are using electricity, at intervals as short as five minutes. This is essential if the electricity bill is to be correct for the subscribers. A special computer system will automatically calculate the price of electricity for customers on the basis of the situation in the generation and distribution system and will continuously communicate these prices to a smart box that will be installed along with the meters.
When necessary, the box will switch electrical appliances on or off, depending on the customer's prior assessment of what is an acceptable electricity price for different types of consumption.
