Fraunhofer IWES and ABB jointly develop mobile grid simulator

The Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES), in collaboration with ABB, is developing the world's largest mobile grid simulator as part of the Mobil-Grid-CoP project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection. The simulator will be used to test the safety and reliability of renewable energy systems such as wind turbines, solar and hydro generators under real conditions. The test program is designed to verify that a renewable energy project connected to a public power grid meets stringent local grid regulations and does not affect the performance and stability of the grid.

The mobile grid simulator will use ABB's ACS6080 Power Electronics Grid Simulator (PEGS) technology to create an artificial power grid on site. Fraunhofer IWES, a leading German research and testing institute specializing in wind energy and power systems engineering, will use the system to simulate various grid operating modes, including fault conditions, and verify compliance with all standards.

The flexible and modular design of the system allows for almost unlimited configuration options. In addition to practical testing, the mobile simulator will play an important role in research and development, especially for various grid-of-the-future scenarios.

“We need to ensure that power grids maintain total stability and performance while integrating ever increasing amounts of intermittent renewables like wind and solar,” said Gesa Quistorf, Group Manager Power Electronics and Grid Integration at Fraunhofer IWES. “Our new mobile grid simulator will play a vital role in accelerating this program, as we will be able to provide compliance testing for the ever-increasing number of large offshore turbines that are pushing current test facilities to their limits. In addition, it is prepared for testing low-frequency high-voltage AC railway applications.”

Chris Poynter, Division President, ABB System Drives, added: “As part of our drive towards a low-carbon society, increasing the availability of renewable energy equipment for use within the power grid is key. We also need to establish how to operate this equipment as safely, reliably and of course, energy efficiently as possible – this is where the extensive testing capabilities of the mobile grid simulator will add huge value.”

When the mobile grid simulator goes into operation in 2023, it will be the largest of its kind in the world. It will have a rated power of up to 28 megavolt amps (MVA) and a short-term capability of up to 80 MVA. For added flexibility, it can also operate as two independent units of 14 MVA. In addition to the PEGS technology, the complete solution supplied by ABB also includes transformers, filters, e-houses, cooling systems, and power and auxiliary distribution equipment.