Materials, Devices and Components for Flexible Electrical Networks of the Future

Abstract:
A major issue considering the German “Energiewende” is the limited transmission capacity of the electrical network. Moreover, the increasing share of distributed generation requires the network to become more dynamic and flexible. Power-electronic converters enable power-flow control and an optimal utilization of the transmission and distribution system. The capacity of the systems can be enhanced further using direct current (dc) instead of alternating current (ac). For this purpose power-electronic converters, their components and devices need to be investigated and improved further. This is the focus of Project 2: Electrical Equipment and Grid Technologies as part of the Forschungscampus: Future Electric Grids. The paper introduces the Forschungscampus and presents the current research on devices and components. Furthermore, an outlook is given on their impact on the European electrical network of tomorrow.