DC Microgrid

Project objectives

The project aims to advance DC microgrid technologies, focusing on both individual converter designs and the overall operating system, with goals of achieving a stable DC bus voltage and efficient energy management. 

A system demonstrator is being built at the SAL Power Labs in Graz, comprising applications connected to the DC microgrid, including: 

• Active infeed converter 
• Battery energy storage system (BESS) 
• DC charger 
• Lighting systems 
• Compressors for refrigerators 
• PV inverter 
• Industrial welding system 
• Power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) system, emulating additional loads 

Additionally, the project includes an investigation of concepts for converting MVAC to MVDC/LVDC (1400 V) using a solid-state transformer (SST) module, which will be built, fully tested, and evaluated in hardware. 

A special research focus is placed on: 

• Modularity and scalability of the individual converters 
• SST modules and integration concepts 
• Arc prevention and detection 
• Selectivity and protection against faults 
• New control approaches and advanced energy management algorithms 
• Magnetic component design, utilizing the latest core materials, winding techniques, insulation technologies, and potting 
• Integration technologies that enable volume-optimized designs 

Project consortium

• Silicon Austria Labs is leading the project, developing the individual converters together with the project partners, and integrating them into a comprehensive system demonstrator featuring innovative system control and energy management capabilities. 
• AIT contributes its expertise in medium-voltage to low-voltage conversion, providing essential support for the development of the planned solid-state transformer. 
• DEIF is contributing its expertise from maritime DC onboard systems, power converter control, and advanced control platforms to the project, supporting the development of stable DC bus voltage control and efficient energy management algorithms. 
• Fronius, with its long-standing experience in PV DC systems and inverters, supports the project with expertise in AC/DC converters, arc protection, and testing the robustness of the DC system demonstrator, including welding applications. 
• Infineon supports the project with the latest solid-state circuit breaker technologies and expertise in power modules, power semiconductors, current sensing technologies and with the newest generation of PSOC microcontrollers enabling the control of converters. 
• Kite Rise Technologies is an emerging company specializing in sodium-ion battery technologies, providing energy storage and backup power solutions for the system demonstrator. 
• Končar, with extensive experience in power converter design and manufacturing for high power PV DC systems, supports the development and investigation of the battery energy storage system and the solid state transformers (SST), providing testing facilities for system-level evaluations, including tests of multiple SST modules. 
• Lasslop supports the project with the latest magnetic components across all converters, leveraging advanced winding structures, state-of-the-art core materials, and modern potting technologies. 
• Nidec, an expert in cooling technologies, is advancing DC solutions for refrigerators and heat pumps. The system demonstrator will incorporate a DC supplied inverter and compressor technologies, contributing to a more energy-efficient future. 
• TU Graz supports the project through innovations and the supervision of assigned MSc and PhD students, with a special focus on the latest voltage and current source inverter technologies. 
• Terma, with many years of experience in DC nanogrids for battery cell testing, provides expertise in AC/DC inverters and system bus voltage control. 
• Tridonic, a frontrunner in advancing DC solutions for industry and an active participant in the Open DC alliance and Current OS associations, supports the project with DC lighting technologies and expertise in grounding and protection.