Electric mobility in Germany is accelerating: More and more people are changing over to climate-friendly electric vehicles.
According to the latest plans of the German government, ten million vehicles on German roads will be electrically powered by 2030. This means a fundamental change for the entire system: for private individuals, companies, network operators, and energy suppliers.
electrification of transport
The increasing number of charging stations leads to a rising demand for electrical power
Professionals must ask themselves how they can integrate the increasing electrification of transport into their operations - be it in their vehicle fleets or the infrastructure offered to customers. An important component is the development of charging infrastructure.
The increasing number of charging stations leads to a rising demand for electrical power in the building. However, the available connected load is often not sufficient. In addition, there is a volatile energy supply from renewable energy sources. This interaction often makes expensive network expansion necessary.
grid expansion
Since April 2019, the energy company innogy and the start-up gridX have been testing a new, intelligent form of energy management at the Wanderath Hotel and Congress Centre, which makes this grid expansion redundant.
Judith Lehnigk-Emden, district representative of the Mayen-Koblenz district, Andreas Booke, co-founder of gridX GmbH, Dr. Armin Gaul, head of the "Coordination of Technical Product Development" department at innogy SE, and Thomas Sztrajt, head of the Wanderath Hotel and Congress Centre in Baar, presented how the technology works.
comprehensive climate protection concept
"In 2016, we developed a comprehensive climate protection concept in the Mayen-Koblenz district," Judith Lehnigk-Emden is pleased to report.
"Among other things, this includes the reduction of CO2 emissions in the district. To achieve this goal, the integration of renewable energies and electric mobility is indispensable. With the project presented today, we can jointly make a significant contribution to this."
integrated gridBox
The associated gridX algorithms create dynamic energy management and thus ensure smooth hotel operation
The integrated gridBox serves as an intelligent energy manager that optimizes the use of self-generated electricity. As part of the Smart Charging project, it monitors the energy flow in the house fully automatically and maximizes the degree of self-sufficiency.
In times of high solar radiation, the building can therefore cover a large part of its electricity requirements from its solar system. The developed solution offers innovative possibilities for the integration of electric cars and charging stations. The associated gridX algorithms create a dynamic energy management and thus ensure smooth hotel operation including the charging facilities and generation plants.
dynamic load management
"For gridX, Wanderath is a great project to show what dynamic load management can look like in practice. The cooperation with innogy, Westnetz, and the conference hotel in Wanderath is very valuable for us because synergies are created and competencies are expanded," says Andreas Booke, Founder, and Managing Director at gridX.
"Through Smart Charging in Wanderath we have managed to build more charging points and at the same time to relieve the network. We want to make this cost-saving available to other companies too in the future."
climate-neutral generation
Dr. Armin Gaul explained the technology of the integrated system solution in Wanderath, "We used a large number of modern components on the premises of the Wanderath Hotel and Congress Center."
"The special thing about it: together with gridX, we have networked all the technologies with each other. In this way, we can increase the hotel's degree of self-sufficiency and make a contribution to the energy revolution in the region with a new charging infrastructure and climate-neutral generation."
energy efficiency
"I am delighted that we can now play a pioneering role in energy efficiency as a hotel and congress center. In recent months, we have noticed an increasing demand from our guests for charging infrastructure."
"With a total of 17 charging points, we now offer a comprehensive range of e-mobility services. And the electricity is also generated by the photovoltaic system on the hotel roof," says Thomas Sztrajt.
efficient technologies
The Wanderath Hotel and Congress Centre offers a wide range of efficient technologies. These include:
- A photovoltaic system with an output of 20 KWp on the roof of the company building generates electricity from sunlight. Solar collectors capture the energy and convert it into electricity.
- Wanderath focuses on electric mobility. As part of the project, the hotel has therefore set up 15 charging points on the site, which are operated using electricity produced by the hotel itself. A total of 17 charging points are available to visitors.
- Smart Poles are intelligent street lights with various functions. It not only provides light in the evening hours on the hotel grounds but also charges electric cars. At the same time, it provides W-LAN for the hotel's guests.
- innogy and gridX have networked the components using the gridBox by gridX. It enables efficient and dynamic change management.
Smart Connect
The gridX solution was included in innogy SE's product portfolio under the name "Smart Connect" and customers from the parking and logistics sectors are already benefiting from its integration.
Together with innogy and gridX, they can thus improve their energy efficiency and maximize their degree of self-sufficiency. Energy costs are reduced and expensive network expansion is avoided.
