Electricity production in the future will not be the same as today. Today, we can adjust production to the customer’s needs, but this is going to change as we get more solar, wind, and wave-produced electric energy in the system as we are going to have surpluses when the sun shines or windy days. We must learn to adjust consumption or store the energy. Smart Grids and Energy Storage are two central areas of research addressing those issues and in which Sweden is at the forefront, and accordingly coordinates InnoEnergy efforts in this thematic area.

Smart Grids that can meet the demands of the future are more flexible and make it possible to produce electricity both locally and remotely. The concept is based on active consumers: they can lower their costs when given greater choice concerning their usage of energy sources. They can also choose to use electrical devices when electricity is cheapest.

Energy storage deals with the integration of variable energy sources in the current electricity grid and ensuring fast and reliable access to a large output reserve in order to stabilize the electricity grid. Energy storage in the future can ensure power supply regardless of the source of energy production. It can also balance temporary drops in output from wind and wave power.

The road to a society with more sustainable energy goes through improved energy systems at all levels - from producers to consumers. The technical challenges that must be solved to realize the strategic goals of energy policy is handled in the area CIPOWER. The vision is to develop innovative power components with advanced control and monitoring in order to pave the way towards an optimal transmission and distribution grid. This field includes the ability to extend the operating limits of components, increasing the robustness, safety, and reliability of the components, environmentally benign designs, and components with reduced losses and good energy quality.

Target
To disseminate intelligence and controllability of the power components used in power supply, transmission and distribution of electrical energy. This may be in the form of new features or new design of components.

Main market Outputs

• Prototype of new devices for switching of electric power.
• Prototype of new devices for electrical energy conversion.
• Improved design tools to be used for current interrupting devices.
• Instrumentation and methods that can be used to improve power quality.
• Controllable power devices for submerged marine substations.
• New sensing devices for monitoring of power system components.
• New techniques for on-line and off-line diagnostics of power components.
• New methods for power system asset management.
• New methods for detection and handling of critical events in power systems such as short-circuits and transient overvoltages.

Partners
ABB, AGH, Eandis, INP Grenoble, IST Lisbon, KTH, K.U. Leuven, Seabased, Technion, Tecnalia, UPC, Uppsala University, Vattenfall.

Project Manager
Hans Edin, KTH Royal Institute of Technology

The thematic Electric Energy Storage program aims to promote development and commercialization of competitive and reliable energy storage delivery systems for use by electricity suppliers and their customers. Electrical energy storage is an important component in the development of an intelligent distribution grid for electricity when production of renewable electricity will increase. Integration of large amounts of intermittent renewable energy requires a very high percentage of energy storage. The idea of ​​the "smart grid”  also includes thoughts on local production, and this affects the size and type of storage that can be used which also means that even small-and medium-sized storage systems can be important.

Target
The goal is to develop and demonstrate new components, new control strategies and solutions for the storage of small, medium and large scale can be integrated into the existing and future power grid.

Main market Outputs
■ Developing new devices such as flywheels, magnetic bearings, sustainable supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries and fuel cells that capable of delivering the storage needed for realizing the smart grid.
■ Better solutions for large scale storage to allow integration of intermittent renewables in existing grids.
■ Building a test site for the demonstrating the usefulness and robustness of these new devices.
■ Building startup companies with strong product portofolio and business plans to take the solutions achieved to a receptive market.

Partners
ABB, AGH-UST Krakow, CEA, ETC Battery and FuelCells Sweden AB, Iberdrola-Scottish Power, IREC, IST, KTH, Technion Institute of Technology, University of Lisbon, Uppsala university, Vattenfall, VITO.

Project Manager
Eva Pålsgård & Kristina Edström

The overall goal of the project is optimal design of ICT systems that enable control of active distribution systems with retained or increased levels of reliability as well as enabling energy-user empowerment. From the utility perspective, ICT solutions tightly integrated with the primary equipment is a core component in active distribution systems. These ICT solutions enable cost-efficient advanced control and automation of distribution grids with high levels of renewable energy sources and active consumers.

Target
The objective of the project is therefore Optimal design of robust, secure, interoperable and scalable ICT solutions that enable active distribution networks and facilitate new models for customer involvement.

Main market Outputs

• Efficient methods for design of robust and interoperable ICT systems.
• Development of new business models involving partners from several industries.
• Cost - Efficient communication systems for integration of partners across industrial boundaries.
• Information models for semantic interoperability across power system domains (production, distribution, end-use).
• New communication models for high-speed communication among several peers over lossy media.
• Methods for assessment of reliability and robustness of ICT infrastructures.
• Establishment of experimental platforms and research arenas for cross-disciplinary work involving power, ICT and markets.

Partners
ABB, Elforsk, Ericsson, Fortum, IREC, KTH, KUL, STRI, Svenska  Kraftnät, Tecnalia, TUE, UPC, Vattenfall

Project Manager
Patrik Hilber, KTH

The aim of this project is to facilitate the development of Smart Grids of the future via new materials or processes. Progress made in other material research areas is also a possibility that might be utilized in energy-related materials, and especially in materials for Smart Grids.  Nanocomposite insulation materials, cellulose-based insulation materials and thin film contacts are a few examples.

Target
Develop new materials with better isolation and/or contact properties which can result in components with a higher performance.

Main market Outputs
• Computational toolbox for the prediction of electric properties of polymer materials and nanocomposites.
• Prototype batches of nanocomposite materials for validation and future up scaling.
• New insulation materials to increase reliability and energy efficiency.
• Diagnostic tools allowing to generate safer electrical equipments and broader customer service.
• Tools and platforms for materials properties screening.
• New cost efficient functional magnetic materials and non-linear materials.

Partners
ABB, AGH, IREC, KIT KTH, Uppsala University.

Project Managers
Håkan Engkvist & Caroline Öhman, Uppsala university 

The electrical energy system is facing a number of emerging technologies. These have to be integrated into the existing power transmission system in a “smart” way to alleviate the future changes the grid is exposed to. Examples of future aspects influencing the European grid are the increased use of variable power sources like wind- (onshore or offshore) and solar energy where the generation sources move far away from load centers; the difficulty to expand the system with Over-Head transmission lines and the tentative change into electrical vehicles. These aspects of the power system constitutes a number of challenges for the power system development, that are adressed within Smart Power.

Targets
The objectives of the project are to develop innovative methods for efficient design and operation of a smart grid and to coordinate applications of innovative smart grids.

Main market Outputs
• Improved knowledge of optimized integration methods for smart grid technologies increases the possibility to find out in which system the new technology has the largest competitiveness.
• Improved market designs increases the possibility to find a business case for new smart grid technologies.
• Application of new methods for smart use of new technologies.
• Performed tests with new smart grid technologies in different systems.
• Coordinated control of several controllable power system devices for secure and efficient operation.
• Operation and Design of Multi-Terminal-HVDC and DC grids.
• Be Aware market tool "i-device" with i-apps", 2011-Q4 market study.

Partners
ABB, Grenoble, IREC, IST, KTH, KUL, Scottish Power, STRI, Tecnalia, TUE, UPC, Vattenfall.

Project Manager
Patrik Hilber, KTH

The tight alliance between higher education, research, and business will help developing Sweden’s expertise in Smart Grids and Energy Storage. Companies and research centres will work with universities to design academic programs that put entrepreneurial mindsets of people in focus, people that will be drivers of innovation.

This SELECT master programme offers advanced education in the field of sustainable energy systems for the future. It aims at delivering education for high competency and quality engineering skills in the field, including industrial interaction throughout the programme.

Programme details: http://www.kth.se/en/studies/programmes/master/em/select

SENSE is a program for students who wish to develop their skills in innovation and entrepreneurship in the exciting field of  Smart Grids. This programme is unique because of its focus on the innovation process closely connected to developing new business within the electric power area.

KIC InnoEnergy is a European business incubator with 6 regional entities within the field of sustainable energy.

• Professional business advisory services
• Access to a European network within sustainable energy
• Access to laboratories within academia and industry
• Access to major demo sites
• Access to various providers
• Funding opportunities

For more information please contact: ingvar.eriksson@no-spam.kic-innoenergy.com

sweden@no-spam.kic-innoenergy.com

Co-Location Sweden
Osqars Backe 31
SE - 100 44 Stockholm
Sweden

• CEO - Kenneth Johansson
• Business Creation Director - Ingvar Eriksson
• Director of Education - Stefan Östlund
• Thematic Leader for Innovation Projects - Lars Nordström
• Project Coordinator/controller - Oguzhan Erim
• Communications Officer - Rickard Källgren