Grids

The SFOE’s programmes in the electricity sector encompass research on a variety of production, conversion, storage and application technologies. With respect to grids, the challenge concerns the integration of the various technologies to form an efficient overall system that can be operated on an interoperable basis, as well as safely and reliably.

Research support is focused exclusively on technological issues, primarily in the field of electricity grids and systems, as well as on the integration of, and interaction with, other energy sources (sector coupling). Thus research findings, above all at the components level, from other fields (e.g. electricity technologies, batteries, hydrogen, heat storage units, non-technological research) are increasingly being taken into account.

Research priorities for 2021 to 2024

Flexibility

• Quantification and evaluation of flexibility on the supply (production, grids, storage, consumers) and demand (energy-related, chronological, spatial) sides;
• Provision of system services via distribution grids (aggregated resources);
• Utilisation of industrial flexibilities;
• Integration of renewable energy sources, storage systems and e-mobility;
• Principles for standards and interoperability.

Grid operation

• New distributed sensor systems; related methods for enhancing network transparency and concepts for safety and error detection;
• Dynamic phenomena;
• Subsidiarity (central versus decentralised control systems);
• Risk-based and resilient operation (e.g. through automation of processes).

Digitisation

• Data management (big data, Internet of Things);
• Methods for suitable anonymisation of data for various application purposes;
• Use of artificial intelligence in planning, operation and maintenance (asset management);
• Interoperability of software (e.g. protocols) and hardware (e.g. smart meters);
• Energy-specific aspects of data security (cyber security); protection of critical infrastructure.

Energy systems

• Importance and interaction of various types of grid infrastructure (electricity, heat, gas, etc.);
• Architecture and integration of various grid infrastructure components (sector coupling);
• Risk-based auxiliary tools for planning resilient grids and systems, taking account of uncertainties (nature, technology, politics, society).

Tendering procedure

The promotion of national research is based on thematic calls for proposals which as a rule are carried out every two years. Unfortunately, submissions are not possible in the interim period.

The current call for proposals was launched on 4 January 2023. The deadline for submission of pre-proposals is 13 March 2023.

Documents

Call 2023 for Research Proposals

• Call 2023 for Research Proposals
  (PDF, 243 KB, 04.01.2023) ID: 11241 | 775
• Call 2023 for Research Proposals – Template for pre-proposals
  (DOCX, 72 KB, 04.01.2023) ID: 11242 | 775

IEA ISGAN Workshop, 3 October 2019, Montreux

• Needs, challenges and opportunities of TSO-DSO coordination
  (PDF, 23.7 MB, 03.10.2019) ID: 9846 | 590

Specialised articles Electricity

• Strom aus Abwärme niedriger Temperatur
  (PDF, 1.4 MB, 15.12.2022) ID: 11233 | 141
• Erneuerbares Gas aus dem Schweizer Untergrund
  (PDF, 3.2 MB, 10.11.2022) ID: 11161 | 141
• Wer hat Angst vor dem ZEV?
  (PDF, 2.8 MB, 03.11.2022) ID: 11158 | 141
• Making cryptocurrency greener
  (PDF, 4.4 MB, 08.09.2022) ID: 11030 | 141
• How converters stabilize the power grid
  (PDF, 5.3 MB, 23.06.2022) ID: 10944 | 141

Display more publications ID: 141

• Wenn Strom ohne Widerstand fliesst
  (PDF, 2.9 MB, 02.06.2022) ID: 10925 | 141
• Der versteckte Nutzen von PV-Anlagen
  (PDF, 4.9 MB, 07.10.2021) ID: 10637 | 141
• Wozu Smart Meter gut sind
  (PDF, 3.6 MB, 07.10.2021) ID: 10638 | 141
• Die Verlockung des eigenen PV-Stroms
  (PDF, 3.4 MB, 03.05.2021) ID: 10515 | 141
• Eine Sicherung für alle Fälle
  (PDF, 5.8 MB, 02.03.2021) ID: 10485 | 141
• Switching elements of the thrifty variety
  (PDF, 2.1 MB, 14.01.2021) ID: 10364 | 141
• Problem und Teil der Lösung
  (PDF, 3.2 MB, 02.06.2020) ID: 10104 | 141
• Stromnetz fit machen für die Erneuerbaren
  (PDF, 2.7 MB, 20.05.2020) ID: 10101 | 141
• Compressed air stabilizes the power grid
  (PDF, 2.6 MB, 20.03.2020) ID: 10065 | 141
• Huge energy-savings by WBG semiconductors
  (PDF, 2.2 MB, 07.02.2020) ID: 10023 | 141
• Licht nach Bedarf
  (PDF, 1.8 MB, 30.08.2019) ID: 9814 | 141
• When Algorithms Control PV Consumption
  (PDF, 2.4 MB, 09.08.2019) ID: 9795 | 141
• Stromnetz-Monitoring via das Stromnetz
  (PDF, 1.9 MB, 31.05.2019) ID: 9724 | 141
• When devices become ‹energy-aware›
  (PDF, 1.4 MB, 11.01.2019) ID: 9588 | 141
• Smart Meter ohne Störsignal
  (PDF, 2.2 MB, 13.04.2018) ID: 9321 | 141
• SBB: A new battery for the on-board network
  (PDF, 4 MB, 09.03.2018) ID: 9074 | 141
• Who’s afraid of power lines?
  (PDF, 3.5 MB, 09.02.2018) ID: 9008 | 141
• Industriebetrieb bricht Spitzen beim Stromverbrauch
  (PDF, 2.5 MB, 08.12.2017) ID: 8927 | 141
• Ein zweites Leben für Postroller-Batterien
  (PDF, 2.9 MB, 10.11.2017) ID: 8870 | 141
• Drahtlos Laden: bequem, aber weniger effizient
  (PDF, 1.6 MB, 06.10.2017) ID: 8806 | 141
• Industrieanlagen stabilisieren das Stromnetz
  (PDF, 3 MB, 14.09.2017) ID: 8783 | 141
• Druckluftspeicher: Der Fels hält dicht
  (PDF, 2.4 MB, 20.01.2017) ID: 8552 | 141
• Eine Welt fast ohne Standby-Verbrauch und Gebrauchsanleitungen auf Papier
  (PDF, 1.8 MB, 16.12.2016) ID: 8526 | 141
• Networking Achieved With Low power
  (PDF, 4.1 MB, 14.11.2016) ID: 8478 | 141
• Electricity flow on Track
  (PDF, 3.2 MB, 27.10.2016) ID: 8453 | 141
• Der Algorithmus als Energieberater
  (PDF, 1.9 MB, 20.09.2016) ID: 8411 | 141
• Das Potenzial der Thermoelektrik
  (PDF, 1.4 MB, 08.07.2016) ID: 8352 | 141
• Damit die Batterie ins Netz passt
  (PDF, 2.2 MB, 24.06.2016) ID: 8341 | 141
• Augen im Stromnetz
  (PDF, 2.6 MB, 31.05.2016) ID: 8314 | 141
• Distribution Grid with an Outlook
  (PDF, 1.3 MB, 05.02.2016) ID: 8173 | 141
• Strom aus handwarmem Wasser
  (PDF, 1.1 MB, 19.11.2015) ID: 8095 | 141
• A measurement system that recognizes (almost) all electrical appliances
  (PDF, 1.2 MB, 16.11.2015) ID: 8086 | 141
• A salt battery that stores solar power
  (PDF, 1.7 MB, 28.09.2015) ID: 8043 | 141
• tiko belebt den Regelenergie-Markt
  (PDF, 1.3 MB, 26.07.2015) ID: 7961 | 141
• More stable power thanks turbogenerators
  (PDF, 877 KB, 02.07.2015) ID: 7953 | 141
• Trafos haben noch Effizienzpotenzial
  (PDF, 824 KB, 09.06.2015) ID: 7914 | 141
• Die richtige Batterie für Selbstversorger
  (PDF, 741 KB, 14.11.2014) ID: 7629 | 141
• Der Thermostat wird energieautark
  (PDF, 1011 KB, 03.11.2014) ID: 7619 | 141
• Collective intelligence for the electricity grid
  (PDF, 834 KB, 10.09.2014) ID: 7573 | 141
• A novel router that consumes only one fifth of the usual current
  (PDF, 820 KB, 19.02.2014) ID: 7368 | 141
• When the cold store becomes a battery
  (PDF, 422 KB, 18.10.2013) ID: 7285 | 141
• Connaître les influences météorologiques permet de mieux exploiter les lignes électriques
  (PDF, 124 KB, 01.07.2013) ID: 7119 | 141
• Power lines that respond to the weather
  (PDF, 533 KB, 25.03.2013) ID: 7046 | 141
• Strom speichern mit Kochsalz
  (PDF, 1000 KB, 01.07.2012) ID: 6973 | 141
• Wege zum Ersatz von Elektroheizungen
  (PDF, 309 KB, 01.07.2011) ID: 5959 | 141
• SBB deckt Sparpotenziale auf
  (PDF, 150 KB, 01.03.2009) ID: 6654 | 141

Links

Smart grids

Digitalization

IEA Energy Technology Network initiatives:

IEA ISGAN TCP – International Smart Grids Action Network

IEA ECES TCP – Energy Storage

IEA 4E TCP PECTA – Power Electronic Conversion Technology

IEA Users TCP – User-centered Energy Systems

European initiatives:

ERA-Net SES – Smart Energy Systems

ETIP SNET – Smart Networks for Energy Transition

BRIDGE – Cooperation group of Smart Grid, Energy Storage, Islands and Digitalisation H2020 projects

JRC – Smart Electricity Systems and Interoperability

National initiatives:

SCCER FURIES – Future Swiss Electrical Infrastructure

SCCER SoE – Supply of Electricity

SCCER JASM – Joint Activity Scenarios and Modelling

Last modification 04.01.2023