Energy Transition

Stromnetz Hamburg to advance bidirectional charging

6 November 2023
Frankfurt Airport’s real lab working on bidirectional charging – Hamburg’s grid operator playing key role

The effects of bidirectional charging processes i.e., taking unused energy from e-vehicle batteries and feeding it back into the power grid are being investigated in a real laboratory at Frankfurt Airport.  Stromnetz Hamburg is co-operating with the airport operator Fraport AG and developing the required software, a press release said Friday (October 20, 2023). The German Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection is putting EUR 5 million towards the  project, which is due for completion in 2027. 

Bidirectional charging as a driver of e-mobility

Fraport AG has a fleet of about 650 electrically-powered vehicles and plans to add 600 cars, buses, and dedicated ground handling vehicles with electric drives by 2026. The real laboratory is suitable for testing bidirectional charging processes, Stromentz Hamburg said. "Bidirectional charging has an impact on distribution grid operators with unpredictable effects so far," said Dr Andreas Cerbe, Managing Director of Stromnetz Hamburg. The project allows the grid operator to gain valuable experience, he added.

Stromnetz Hamburg providing software

Stromnetz Hamburg's eRound IT backend manages charging infrastructures for electro-mobility and networking. The company now aims to develop its  "IT backend into a grid-serving system", said Cerbe. The focus is on integrating bidirectional charging. The Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences will be monitoring the economic and technical aspects of the project. The ministry has put the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in charge of the project.

fw/pb

Sources and further information

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