Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier handed over the funding notice to the first "real laboratory of the energy transition". The "SmartQuart" project, which was developed by a consortium of nine partners, can start in January 2020.
The project aims to make the use of fossil fuels in the project quarters largely superfluous. In the cities of Essen and Bedburg in North Rhine-Westphalia and Kaisersesch in Rhineland-Palatinate, the individual city districts will be networked with each other. In this way, the differently structured districts are to complement each other sustainably and economically in a systemic network and exchange energy with each other.
energy and climate policy goals
"I am delighted that the first real laboratory of the energy turnaround is already starting work. Our real laboratories are innovation projects on an industrial scale," said Peter Altmaier, Minister of Economics.
"In them, we develop and test technologies that we need for our ambitious energy and climate policy goals. SmartQuart is an example of how the energy revolution can be transferred from the electricity sector to other sectors."
"SmartQuart"
By depicting three areas typical for Germany, the concepts can be transferred to other quarters
"SmartQuart" represents typical urban quarters from low-density rural areas to very high-density urban areas. By depicting three areas typical for Germany, the concepts can be transferred to other quarters. In all three urban quarters, residents, energy suppliers, and local technology providers are involved in the implementation of "SmartQuart".
In addition to gridX, the project partners are innogy SE, Cisco Systems Holding GmbH, Hydrogenious Technologies GmbH, OFB Projektentwicklung GmbH, RWE Power AG, RWTH Aachen University, the town of Bedburg, the municipality of Kaisersesch and Viessmann Werke GmbH & Co. KG. Associated partners are the City of Essen, Siemens AG and H2MOBILITY Deutschland GmbH & Co.KG.
intelligent energy management
gridX is the only startup among large corporations represented in the consortium. The young company, which has been operating on the market since 2016, is responsible for the connectivity of the quarters.
Only the innovative technology of gridX enables the actual implementation of intelligent energy management. Thus, via the gridX cloud, plants, buildings, and residential buildings within the three quarters are networked and also altogether via a central contact point.
climate-neutral energy supply
With "SmartQuart", gridX shows that climate-neutral energy supply within a quarter and in interaction with neighboring quarters is already technically and economically possible today. The central project element is the exchange of energy and intelligent networking within and between the quarters.
Consumption and generation are already being optimized at the local level. The basis for this is the transparent, scalable, and manufacturer-independent platform of gridX. Thus, a holistic and sustainable neighborhood concept for a renewable energy and heat supply is demonstrated.
sustainable energy technologies
If Germany's climate protection goals are to be achieved, the share of renewable energies must still grow
With the real laboratories of the energy transition, sustainable energy technologies are tested under real conditions and on an industrial scale. The BMWi provides more than 100 million euros annually for this purpose.
If Germany's climate protection goals are to be achieved, the share of renewable energies in all sectors and all areas of daily life must still grow significantly. This is precisely where the "SmartQuart" project comes in - in a citizen-driven energy, heat, and mobility turnaround from the districts.
decentralized sector
An important factor here is decentralized sector coupling at the local level in neighborhoods to implement the energy turnaround in the areas of mobility, heat, and electricity.
Different approaches to solutions are being developed in the neighborhoods, which complement each other across neighborhood boundaries.
heat pumps
The districts: To implement the energy system transformation in the Bedburg district, "green" local district energy (heat energy and household electricity) will be used.
The energy will be generated locally by a new wind turbine, which will be built as part of an expansion of the local wind farm, and in new neighborhood PV systems, and consumed in the neighborhood. Highly efficient central and decentralized (per house) heat pumps will also be used.
hydrogen-based microgrid
In the Literaturquartier in Essen, the former site of the WAZ, a new quarter is being created
A hydrogen-based microgrid is to be installed in the rural community of Kaisersesch. This shows the entire value chain from the generation, conversion, storage, distribution, and use of renewable energy by the end user in the sectors of heating, electricity, mobility, and industry.
Thus renewable energy is to be integrated into the energy system. In the Literaturquartier in Essen, the former site of the West Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ), a new quarter is being created consisting of a residential area, small businesses, office, and hotel buildings.
digital quarter energy management
With a PV and hybrid PV system, the highly dense urban quarter can generate its energy.
In addition, new mobility offers will be made through charging points, as well as e-car and bike sharing, and the balance of consumption and generation will be optimized by using a central quarter storage and an intelligent digital quarter energy management system.
