Smart City Mannheim puts the future of energy production to the test!
Smart City Mannheim (moma) is one of several research projects set up under the German government funded programme ‘E-Energy’. The project’s ultimate objective was to turn the existing conventional power grid into a smart grid resembling the energy situation of the future.
Smart City Mannheim demonstrates that by using the appropriate technology, smart grids can be created which ensure a high level of grid stability, whilst successfully maintaining security of supply. The project shows that all this is possible even with the connection of many decentralized as well as centralized generators and the use of short transportation routes helps to ensure minimal power losses.
What does the Smart City Mannheim smart grid consist of?
- A powerful communications infrastructure – Broadband Powerline enables real-time data transfer over the existing power grid. This means that the utility knows exactly how much electricity from renewable energy sources is being fed into the grid at any one time and how much energy is required. Intelligent control of energy consumption ensures the load on the grid will always remain balanced.
- Flexible electricity prices, which are dependent on the supply from renewable energy sources. Prices fall at times of increased energy production from, for example wind or solar, and rise again when less electricity is available. This encourages the consumer to use energy when sufficient supply is available.
- The ‘Energy Butler’ energy management system helps the individual household to shift its energy consumption without compromising its convenience or comfort. Upon request, the Energy Butler can automatically manage the consumer’s devices, such as washing machines, dishwashers or freezers, automatically switching them on when energy prices are low. The consumer, of course maintains full control, being able to override the Energy Butler and switch the devices on or off at anytime.
- A market moderator and a grid moderator provide the Energy Butler with the required information regarding electricity tariffs. They also regulate the situation in the grid, so that there is always a balance between production and consumption thus creating a virtual energy marketplace.
- The virtual energy marketplace connects consumers, producers, suppliers, distributors, network operators and energy service providers to a regional marketplace which is able to self-regulate in order to maintain a balance.
- A password protected Internet portal as used with Online-banking provides the consumer safe access to their energy consumption data thus helping them to consciously manage their energy. By providing a high level of cost transparency, the consumer can save money while making an active contribution to the environment.
