Press Releases 2017

The CertBench project is now entering phase two: Further research work and an array of experimental tests are planned in order to establish the requirements for certifying the electrical properties of wind turbines on system test benches: The nacelle of a 3 MW turbine from project partner ENERCON will undergo tests as per the guidelines relevant for certification in the Dynamic Nacelle Testing Laboratory (DyNaLab). Realistic loads and interactions between the nacelle and rotor will be simulated using real-time models and control algorithms on the test bench for hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) operation. The test methods can be validated by comparing the results of the tests with the field data. Accelerated testing under laboratory conditions has the potential to make it significantly easier for manufacturers to plan the market launch of new and modified turbine models.

The Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems has completed a study, “Energy Consumption of Consumer Electronics in U.S. Homes in 2017,” the fourth in a series commissioned by the Consumer Technology Association, to provide up-to-date information to support energy policymaking in a rapidly changing industry.

Smalls drops, big impact: Even just minor rain erosion damage on rotor blade surfaces can impair performance and shorten the service life of wind turbines. Fraunhofer IWES has been operating a rain erosion test bench since 2015 in order to achieve a better understanding of how damage progresses and derive effective preventative measures. Within the scope of the newly started “BeLeB” research project the aim is to contribute to the development of reliable forecasting models for erosion damage and apply them to turbine operation. In particular, this also encompasses the assessment of practice-relevant repair concepts. To achieve these goals, the test bench is set up to enable continuous testing and precise damage documentation by means of high-resolution 3D images. Offshore operating data are used by way of comparison for validation purposes.

Fraunhofer CSE celebrated the inauguration of its Energy Storage Integration Lab on December 5th, 2017. The CEO of Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Stephen Pike, joined us to officially “cut the ribbon” to open the ESI lab, which will test novel battery storage, power inverters, electric vehicle (EV) chargers and building energy management systems for residential and light commercial applications.

The prototype of the new offshore turbine from Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is set to undergo extensive hardware in the loop (HiL) testing in the Dynamic Nacelle Testing Laboratory (DyNaLab) from April 2018 until the end of the same year. The focus will be on the performance of the generator and the turbine’s grid compatibility. Fraunhofer IWES replicates the loads on the rotor and grid side realistically by using a comprehensive grid simulator and a highly dynamic drive system. This makes it possible to draw reliable conclusions about how the turbine will perform in the field in just a short period of time. The design validation of new turbine models offers manufacturers decisive support in accelerating the electrical certification of their systems and avoid surprises after the market launch.

Scientists from Fraunhofer ISI and KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) have compared the performance of battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Germany and the US. They discovered that plug-in hybrids with a real-world electrical range of about 60 kilometers drive just as much in electrical mode as battery electric vehicles, and their potential for reducing CO2 is therefore just as large. The results have now been published in the journal “Scientific Reports”.

Members of twelve SME, industrial, and scientific partners, co-ordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT, and representatives of the European Commission participated in the second consortium meeting in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on the 26th of October 2017. Discussions took place regarding the progress of activities relating to the research project TO-SYN-FUEL which will operate and demonstrate the production of Synthetic Fuels and Green Hydrogen from waste biomass.

Until now, acreage was designated for either photovoltaics or photosynthesis, that is, to generate electricity or grow crops. An agrophotovoltaics (APV) pilot project near Lake Constance, however, has now demonstrated that both uses are compatible. Dual use of land is resource efficient, reduces competition for land and additionally opens up a new source of income for farmers. For one year, the largest APV system in Germany is being tested on the Demeter farm cooperative Heggelbach. In the demonstration project “Agrophotovoltaic – Resource Efficient Land Use” (APV-Resola)” led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, solar modules for electricity production are installed directly above crops covering an area of one third hectare. Now the first solar harvest of power and produce has been collected on both levels.

Batteries are indispensable for electric vehicles and other mobile devices that require electrical power. Complex battery management systems (BMS) are needed to estimate, for example, the range and durability of the battery. Therefore, they determine the state of charge for each cell on the basis of Current (Coulomb Counting) and Voltage. As BMS calculations are based on default values, they are prone to error. Especially with frequent partial charge and certain battery cell types, no precise measurement of the state of charge is possible. In addition, these systems consume some of the energy themselves.

A pan-European consortium consisting of Hungarian data center engineering specialist H1 Systems, UK based cooling provider EcoCooling, German research institute Fraunhofer IOSB, Swedish research institute SICS and infrastructure developers Boden Business Agency, have joined forces aiming to design and validate a future proof concept.