Academic Content & Certificates

The E.ON Energy Research Center of RWTH Aachen University is the leading institution of this Summer School and responsible for the overall direction of the academic content. The E.ON ERC is supported by an expert of the BatterieIngenieure GmbH and the Institute of Power Systems and Power Economics.

Students receive an overview of current challenges and new technologies with regards to the future electric grid. Topics include but are not limited to the following subject areas:

Introduction to Smart Electrical Power: High-Power Converters for Electric Power Supply and Applications for DC-Voltage Technologies
The share of decentralized power generation is steadily increasing, in particular renewable energy sources like wind and photovoltaics. Both wind and PV are connected to the electrical grid with power electronic converters and operated with a dc voltage internally. Also long-distance electrical power transmission systems and consumers of electrical energy like e.g. LEDs, heat pumps, (fast-) charging systems for electric vehicles (internally) operate with dc. Therefore, the applications of dc in distribution grids become more and more feasible and efficient, especially on system level. The lectures will discuss future grid structures and application scenarios of dc technology. The focus is set on power electronic converters for dc distribution and dc transmission.

Measurement Techniques and Distributed Intelligence for Power Systems
Students will gain insight into measurement challenges and new technologies for monitoring of power systems. The course will first introduce the measurement and monitoring requirements of modern power systems, with an emphasis on distribution systems.

The overview of measurement chain components will include fundamental metrology aspects, sensors and measurements in the context of automation architecture of the power system substation. The synchrophasor measurement will be presented as a particularly relevant case of synchronized measurement. Finally, the state estimation will be introduced as one of the key components to the monitoring process.

Power System Dynamics
In this lecture, the fundamental aspects of power systems dynamics will be introduced in light of the modernization of power systems and integration of new power technologies. Starting from the basic principles of power system dynamics, the lecture will cover the transients of synchronous generators under small disturbances, discussing in detail the swing equation model and the equal area criteria.

Automation of Complex Power Systems
In this lecture, the frequency control theory will be introduced. The concept of the frequency control hierarchy will be presented by analyzing the functions of each control level. The module will focus on the primary level of control, in particular the load-frequency droop characteristic of synchronous generators and the automatic generation control. Finally, the different transient stages of frequency control will be discussed with a brief introduction to secondary control level.

Basics on Battery Energy Storage Systems as Flexibility Options in the Future Electricity Grid
This lecture provides students with an introduction to basic concepts of energy storage systems. They get accustomed to the scientific categorizations and learn based on SWOT analysis about the relevant application of the different storage solutions. Additionally, the market for PV-homestorage systems and large scale battery storage systems will be elaborated. The focus lies on the European/German market. Afterwards, the concept of multi-use applications for storage systems and the opportunities for electric vehicles and PV-homestorage will be explained. The second part consists of practical work within the laboratories of the institute. In the laboratories, students can experience the concept of electrochemical storage through experiments and afterwards through a tour through a 5 MW / 5 MWh battery storage system, which is comprised of 5 different technologies.