About Smart Grid Technology Lab

Advanced research facilitiy of TU Dortmund University for smart grid applications

Smart Grid Technology Lab is the advanced research infrastructure of the Institute of Energy Systems, Energy Efficiency and Energy Economics (ie3) at TU Dortmund University for testing and validation of smart grids applications. We carry out state-of-the-art research in the domains of power distribution systems and electric mobility with particular focus on:

  • Voltage control and congestion management
  • Distribution grid state estimation
  • Ancillary services with Distributed Energy Resources (DER)
  • Innovative controllers and power components prototyping

Our goal is to combine theoretical knowledge with practical research through strong collaborations with industrial and academic partners, both, on the national and international level. Even if our main focus is on the power distribution systems and electric mobility, we are constantly exploring to expand our activities to other fields through multidisciplinary projects in order to merge the know-how of further areas such as telecommunications with our research portfolio.

Lab overview

The test facility is designed to perform advanced laboratory testing that includes full simulation, full-scale hardware testing and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation. This allows for experimental tests with commercial products of diverse nature and from different manufacturers also including information and communication technology (ICT).

Our flexible R&D laboratory includes:

  • Reconfigurable low voltage network
  • Real-time simulators and power hardware-in-the-loop systems
  • Electric vehicles and commercial charging stations
  • Linear and switched-mode power amplifiers
  • MV/LV transformers equipped with on-load tap changers
  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (redox flow, li-ion)
  • Photovoltaic inverters
  • Configurable loads, advanced measurement devices, etc.
  • ... and more

Find out our principal Testbeds & Components


Competence Center

Smart Grid Technology Lab hosts the Competence Center for e-mobility infrastructure and power grids

The Competence Center for e-mobility infrastructure and power grids is part of the Smart Grid Technology Lab and provides a joint multidisciplinary testing platform for interoperable electromobility, infrastructure and networks.

The aim of the Competence Center is to create a suitable link between electric vehicle charging infrastructures and innovative technology in distribution grids such as decentralized energy resouces, intelligent loads and flexible storage systems. The goal is to meet the challenges of the energy transition while providing technological progress that leads to marketable innovations.

Since energy transition and electromobility are issues in the context of society as a whole, the Competence Center is not only pursuing its scientific and technical activities, but is also taking the path of transferring the results and theses generated to society. This is done, for example, by actively shaping municipal citizen participation concepts and through close cooperation with municipalities and associations.

Meet our Team

Christian Rehtanz (Prof.Dr.-Ing.)

Head of ie3 institute

Julia Schmeing

E-mobility

Robert Jahn

Distributed Ledger Technology and Smart Contracts

Alfio Spina (Ph.D.)

Head of Smart Grid Technology Lab

Ulf Häger (Ph.D.)

Chief engineer at ie3 institute

Marcel Esser

Battery energy storage systems, high power EV charging systems

Publications

We would like to show you our latest contributions to the research community.


Partners