The Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) is fundamentally modernising its network control technology and, together with PSI Software SE, is developing a SmartGrid real-world laboratory and a new network training simulator based on the PSIprins control system. Based on the latest generation PSIprins 9, a new grid training simulator with improved process simulation is being supplied by DIgSILENT GmbH. This includes the world's leading integrated grid calculation software PowerFactory for calculating generation, transmission, distribution and industrial grids.

The BTU is one of Germany's leading technical universities in the field of transmission grid operation and research into sector-coupled, island-capable microgrids, and plays a central role in innovation, research and scientific education in the Lausitz region. With the SmartGrid real-world laboratory, the BTU is implementing a pioneering project for the digitalisation and further development of its campus grid. The aim is to develop the existing campus microgrid into a fully-fledged smart grid real-world laboratory and to improve the network control technology, both functionally and technologically, for the sectoral integration of electricity, heating, cooling and, in terms of balance, gas. The structural change project EIZ – Energy Innovation Centre at the BTU Cottbus, led by the Chair of High Voltage Engineering and Electrical Systems, focuses in particular on measures for controlling decentralised energy structures for sector-wide operations.

At the same time, a modern training and research environment is being created. The third-generation grid training simulator is again based on the PSIprins platform with PowerFactory as its calculation core and enables realistic training scenarios for university education and research in digitalised energy flow control. The training simulator uses powerful real-time calculations for power flow, grid security and short-circuit current calculation. Extensive modelling is used for this purpose, including realistic power plant models, feed-in models for wind energy and photovoltaic systems, transformer models and flexible load models. A special feature here is the realistic, control-related representation of generators, such as thermal power plants down to the combustion stage and the feed-in of electricity from renewable energies, derived from the wind speed or global radiation at the plant location.

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