Fraunhofer Develops DC Smart Grids for Production Halls
Fraunhofer IPA and IISB are developing intelligent direct current (DC) power supply systems for industrial production halls. The goal is to improve energy efficiency and flexibility.
Fraunhofer Institutes for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) and Integrated Systems and Device Technology (IISB) are collaborating with over 30 partners to develop new DC-based power supply systems for production halls. The project, known as DC-INDUSTRIE 2, aims to reduce industrial energy consumption and carbon emissions.
While most production plants traditionally operate on alternating current (AC), an increasing number of devices, such as computers and LED lighting, use DC power. Simultaneously, renewable energy sources like solar power generate DC. Researchers believe that implementing DC grids can significantly enhance energy efficiency.
A predecessor project, DC-INDUSTRIE, demonstrated that the shift to DC could improve energy efficiency by 5 to 10 percent. This is partly due to DC systems facilitating the utilization of regenerative braking energy.
The DC-INDUSTRIE 2 project intends to scale up the DC concept from individual machines to entire production halls. The initiative is expected to advance the transition towards a more sustainable industrial sector and simplify the integration of climate-neutral technologies.