Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System TechnologyUtiliSpaces
The UtiliSpaces project aims to research the reliable control and dimming of controllable consumption units such as heat pumps and charging stations via the smart meter infrastructure in critical grid situations. Particularly in times of high load or insufficient generation, grid operators are to be given the opportunity to control controllable systems such as heat pumps and wallboxes in a targeted manner in order to ensure a stable and efficient energy supply.
The laboratory tests will take place in Fraunhofer ISE's Digital Grid Lab, where a comprehensive test stand will be set up with smart meter gateways, control boxes and submeters from various manufacturers. Various hardware and software solutions are being tested in order to develop a reliable process chain for the regulation of controllable consumption devices in accordance with §14a EnWG. In addition, a virtual laboratory environment (Virtual Lab) based on a Kubernetes cluster will be created at Fraunhofer IEE, which will make it possible to analyze scaling issues and simulate processes with a large number of emulated smart meter gateways and flexible energy systems.
The project begins with extensive laboratory testing in which both real charging stations and digital twins are integrated into the power hardware-in-the-loop system. The project partners contribute their CLS management systems and act as active external market participants (aEMT). Following the laboratory phase, practical field tests are planned.
