Energiepark integrated renewables tech demonstrator

Ulm, Germany

The Ulm University of Applied Sciences (THU) has opened its Energiepark research facilities in the south of Germany, aiming to flexibly use renewable energies to ensure sustainable power generation regardless of the weather and grid utilisation.

Their Energiepark demonstrates the interaction of different methods for the generation, storage and distribution of renewable energies: A rooftop PV array supplies the park’s 24 charging points for EVs with solar power.  For longer-term energy storage, our integration partner ostermeier H2ydrogen Solutions GmbH installed four of Enapter’s AEM Electrolysers to convert electricity and water into green hydrogen. The H2 can be converted back into electricity via fuel cells.

Surplus electricity can also be stored for short periods using 388 kWh of battery capacity to provide emergency power or to compensate for voltage fluctuations. The Energiepark also has Germany’s first gas turbine running on 100 % green hydrogen in regular operation. Thanks to sector coupling, it has an electrical output of 100kW and a thermal output of 200kW.

The THU’s Smart Grid Lab as part of the Energiepark provides a multi-level test environment for both applied research and industrial partners. Its main focus is on the control of decentralised generators and loads, in particular taking into account various interests from the perspective of energy trading, grid operation and system operation.