Exchange of
information
information
Energystream
Voltage
Wind
Earlier power grids:
For a long time the roles of power distribution were clearly divided: in large power plants, electricity was generated and delivered via the power grid to private and industrial consumers. Learn how the participants in the classical energy grid function by clicking on the industrial site, private household or the power plant.
Power plant:
For a long time electricity was mainly produced in large-scale power plants, reliably providing constant, large amounts of energy for private consumers and industry.
Despite the ongoing expansion of renewable energy, an important part of our electricity will still be provided by traditional power plants for the foreseeable future
Providers:
In the traditional energy system, the power grid took had a comparatively easy task: it carried the electricity generated at large power plants to consumers. The provider also oversaw the balance between electricity demand and production.
This system has been complicated by the increase of small, decentralized generation plants mainly using renewables: the network is not designed for these tasks and must therefore be changed. Additionally, regulating a fluctuating electricity supply from renewable energy sources is inevitable if large amounts of this energy are to be integrated into the energy system. Up-to-date information about production and consumption is a necessity.
Industrial plant:
Industry is highly dependent on a reliable and continuous power supply. The price of electricity is an important cost factor as industry requires much power.
Some electrical processes must not run continuously, but can be halted, if necessary, without interrupting production. This includes, for example, the cooling of a cold storage warehouse. In a Smart Grid, the warehouse can cover its energy needs when there is a peak offer of electricity at reasonably lower prices. The company saves energy costs, the network is relieved, and the share of renewable energy consumption rises.
Private household:
The constant availability of electricity is part of everyday life in Germany. As the use of electricity is so normal, the role of most retail customers has thus far been passive. The missing overviews of actual consumption and inflexible electricity tariffs have hindered an aware handling of energy. Today, the Smart Grid and the so-called Smart Meter already make a more aware approach possible.
It has become increasingly important to use energy more sparingly due to rising energy demands, the limited availability of natural resources and climate change.
Private households are active participants of Smart Grids. With a photovoltaic system on the roof, they are no longer simply consumers, but also producers of electricity. In the future they will store power, perhaps by the use of a heat pump, the battery of electric cars or a battery designed specifically for the purpose of electrical storage. They can use times of high power supply and favorable electric prices more efficiently.
Why a Smart Grid?:
The "classic" system of power supply no longer exists. Today large amounts of electricity from renewable sources are produced from increasingly smaller, decentralized energy producers, blurring the lines between consumers and producers. For a long time now households with a modern photovoltaic system no longer just consumed electricity but became so-called "prosumers" who themselves produce electricity. With the new players, the flow of electricity has become more complex: out of the one-way street of producer to consumer is now a multi-directional energy stream flowing in different directions. At the same time, the level of the energy gained from "renewables" increasingly varies.
Consequently, new challenges arise for a more efficient power grid. The continuous balancing of the power supply with demand is a highly complex task. This task can be done only through intelligent networking of the many participants and components of the energy system.
By selecting the icons for "Current” and "Exchange of information" these relationships are revealed. By clicking on the electric tower, you will see the varying voltage potentials and which participants are contributing to it.
Power plant:
For a long time electricity was mainly produced in large-scale power plants, reliably providing constant, large amounts of energy for private consumers and industry.
Despite the ongoing expansion of renewable energy, an important part of our electricity will still be provided by traditional power plants for the foreseeable future
Industrial plant:
Industry is highly dependent on a reliable and continuous power supply. The price of electricity is an important cost factor as industry requires much power.
Some electrical processes must not run continuously, but can be halted, if necessary, without interrupting production. This includes, for example, the cooling of a cold storage warehouse. In a Smart Grid, the warehouse can cover its energy needs when there is a peak offer of electricity at reasonably lower prices. The company saves energy costs, the network is relieved, and the share of renewable energy consumption rises.
Private household:
The constant availability of electricity is part of everyday life in Germany. As the use of electricity is so normal, the role of most retail customers has thus far been passive. The missing overviews of actual consumption and inflexible electricity tariffs have hindered an aware handling of energy. Today, the Smart Grid and the so-called Smart Meter already make a more aware approach possible.
It has become increasingly important to use energy more sparingly due to rising energy demands, the limited availability of natural resources and climate change.
Private households are active participants of Smart Grids. With a photovoltaic system on the roof, they are no longer simply consumers, but also producers of electricity. In the future they will store power, perhaps by the use of a heat pump, the battery of electric cars or a battery designed specifically for the purpose of electrical storage. They can use times of high power supply and favorable electric prices more efficiently.
Electric mobility:
Electric mobility is a market of the future: electric powered vehicles are economical, clean and quiet. They are particularly "clean" if the electricity for the vehicles is obtained from renewable energy sources. The German Federal Government’s plan for the development of electric mobility envisions a million electric vehicles driving on German roads by 2020. CO2 emissions and the use of fossil fuels will be lowered as a result. However, the increase in the number of electric vehicles will present new challenges to the power grid, as the "fuel" must ultimately be in sufficient quantity and available in the right location.
Electric cars may play a key role in energy storage in the Smart Grid. The batteries of electric cars serve as a flexible energy pool that can be tapped during peak demand and recharged when the demand is low. This storage function is becoming very important due to greater fluctuation in energy supplies resulting from the increase in renewable energy sources.
Biomass plant:
Biomass power plants belong to the complex of renewable energies because they produce electricity from solid biomass, such as waste wood, straw and leaves. Its great advantage: providing a constant supply of electricity into the grid - unlike other ' renewables'. This advantage is used optimally in the Smart Grid. Wind turbines, solar parks and biomass power plants are combined as a "virtual power plant". Fluctuations are compensated accurately and automatically.
Storage power station:
Storage capabilities are becoming increasingly important as the share of fluctuating renewable energies in electricity production strongly increases. Storage power plants are able to absorb "overproduction" on particularly sunny or windy days and convert it to electricity when demand is high.
Storage is an integral part of the Smart Grid. This ranges from the battery of the domestic electric car to large hydro-electric storage stations. In addition to environmental benefits, they have other advantages: if necessary the stored electricity is available on short notice for which a conventional power plant might require several hours.
Wind Farm:
Wind turbines are a strong pillar in electricity production from renewable energy sources, however, wind, like the sun, is not always available as an energy source. An efficient and environmentally friendly use of wind and solar energy requires that their fluctuating energy deliveries be compensated for by the energy system.
In the Smart Grid over or under production will be specifically controlled to offset future fluctuations. So, for example, the power gained through strong winds can be directed to power storage facilities. This stored energy can then be used when winds are calm and there is high energy demand.
Power grid / Information hub:
The fluctuating supply from renewable energy sources, as well as the regional increase of energy production, already tests the limits of the power grid. In addition to an expansion of power grids, they must be converted into intelligent networks. It is crucial to obtain more information about supply and demand. Future control can only be achieved on the basis of this information. This includes questions on when the customer re-charges his electric vehicle, when the cold store plant cools or when excess capacity is stored. Control can be managed, for example, through price levels. The use of robotics - within certain limits - but controlled by the customer is also imaginable.
Advantages of the Smart Grid:
An intelligent power grid is not an end in itself. Rather, permanent and up-to-date information on consumption and production allow a safe, economic and environmentally friendly handling of energy.
See how participants in the energy market will benefit and how interaction in the Smart Grid works. With a click on the wind symbol two scenarios are shown, one with little and one with much wind, which exemplify how the intelligent network can respond to fluctuating supply from renewable energy sources.
Power plant:
The classic power plant, no matter whether fueled by coal or nuclear power, will still play an important role in intelligent power supply in the foreseeable future: it is able to deliver a large amount of energy constantly and reliably.
Power plant:
Szenario: Strong Wind
If there is much energy available from wind farms thanks to strong winds, the power plant can reduce its output. This, however, normally requires some time. Meanwhile, other measures are needed to keep a balance between supply and demand.
Power plant:
Szenario: Weak Wind
When the wind is calm, resulting in a relative shortage of available power, the power plant can increase its energy production to meet the needs of industrial and private consumers.
Industrial plant:
Industry is highly dependent on a reliable and continuous power supply. The price of electricity is an important cost factor as industry requires much power.
Some electrical processes must not run continuously, but can be halted, if necessary, without interrupting production. This includes, for example, the cooling of a cold storage warehouse. In a Smart Grid, the warehouse can cover its energy needs when there is a peak offer of electricity at reasonably lower prices. The company saves energy costs, the network is relieved, and the share of renewable energy consumption rises.
Industrial plant:
Szenario: Strong Wind
The availability of larger quantities of energy through strong wind translates to lower energy costs. Industry then raises its demands as long as possible.
Industrial plant:
Szenario: Weak Wind
When there is little available electricity from wind power, the gap is closed by traditional power plants and the use of reserves. Energy prices rise with energy shortages. To save energy costs, factory operators in the Smart Grid reduce their power consumption, without disturbing their operations.
Private household:
Within the Smart Grid, the private consumer takes a more active role than previously, as he is supported by comfortable energy management systems. They help adapt personal consumption to usage dependent prices, to identify "guzzlers" and to sensibly handle personal consumption.
Private household:
Szenario: Strong Wind
The price of electricity falls when there is more energy available due to strong winds. Now, for example, is when the electric car in the garage is automatically re-charged or the pre-filled washing machine is run.
Private household:
Szenario: Weak Wind
There are many simple examples in a scenario where weak wind means higher energy price. Now the household could make the electric car battery available to deliver additional energy to the grid. With Smart Meters the consumer always has an overview of electricity prices, his usage, as well as the opportunity to reduce his energy consumption.
Electric mobility:
The battery of the electric car serving as a miniature reservoir will be integrated into the network by means of modern information and communication technology. This source can add to or use the capacity of the grid in cases of acute need or unexpected overproduction.
Electric mobility:
Szenario: Strong Wind
Wind powered plants increase the amount of electricity fed into the power grid during high winds. In the Smart Grid, batteries of electric vehicles would now be targeted as reservoirs – even automatically at the wish of the customer.
Electric mobility:
Szenario: Weak Wind
The batteries of electric vehicles can help to compensate for peak consumption during times of relatively high demand.
Biomass plant:
Unlike wind farms and solar power plants, biomass plants can feed constant energy into the grid making them an important addition to other sources of renewable energy in the intelligent network.
Biomass plant:
Szenario: Strong Wind
The biomass plant feeds electricity into the power grid regardless of the wind and the available amount of energy fed by the wind farm.
Biomass plant:
Szenario: Weak Wind
The biomass plant feeds electricity into the power grid regardless of the wind and the available amount of energy from the wind farm.
Storage power station:
Storage power stations play a key role in the smart energy grid. The hydro-electric pumped storage power station, shown here, is just one of the possible technologies. Compressed air storage plants, which store energy through the compression of air, and accumulators, which use re-chargeable batteries for storage, are also used to stabilize power grids. Hydrogen storage power plants are a relatively new technology, which utilize hydrogen as an energy carrier, when there is enough power. When needed, the hydrogen can be then be converted into electricity and sent to the grid.
Storage power station:
Szenario: Strong Wind
If too much electricity is available, the hydro-electric pumped storage power station can utilize the wind-produced electricity. With the help of the electrical energy the water is pumped to a higher lying reservoir, stored there, until returned to drive the turbines. The electrical energy is once again available during periods of “electrical drought”.
Storage power station:
Szenario: Weak Wind
The hydro-electric pumped storage power station feeds electricity into the grid in calm conditions when there is a relative shortage of available electricity. This is accomplished by releasing the water from the upper reservoir to drive the turbines which, in turn, produce electricity.
Wind Farm:
In the future, even more powerful wind farms will be created - offshore wind farms built off the coast. These are able to produce large amounts of energy. Still, the amount will fluctuate depending on the strength of the wind.
Wind Farm:
Szenario: Strong Wind
Lots of wind means lots of energy. The wind farm provides large amounts of electricity to the grid.
Wind Farm:
Szenario: Weak Wind
With calm or only light winds, the wind farm provides no or significantly less energy to the grid. Other energy sources are then required to off-set this shortfall.
Power grid / Information hub:
Only the interaction of all players in the energy system employing up-to-minute information turns a power grid into a Smart Grid. It is still unclear who will act as the hub for information. It is clear, however, that much information is simultaneously needed while still observing information protection requirements.
Power grid / Information hub:
Szenario: Strong Wind
Only the interaction of all players in the energy system employing up-to-minute information turns a power grid into a Smart Grid. It is still unclear who will act as the hub for information. It is clear, however, that much information is simultaneously needed while still observing information protection requirements.
Power grid / Information hub:
Szenario: Weak Wind
Only the interaction of all players in the energy system employing up-to-minute information turns a power grid into a Smart Grid. It is still unclear who will act as the hub for information. It is clear, however, that much information is simultaneously needed while still observing information protection requirements.
Consumption information is sent from the industrial plant; price and control signals received.
Consumption information is sent from the household; price and control signals received.
Consumption information is sent from the power station; price and control signals received.