2015
Avacon
The VRDT offers a simple and cost-efficient alternative to conventional low-voltage grid expansion by helping release the potential of the medium voltage grid. This is done by effectively decoupling the low voltage from the medium voltage making it available separately, without having to build significant new infrastructure.
Objectives:
Main information:
With the growth in renewable energy as a distributed energy source it has become clear that new electricity production cannot be integrated into the existing German network in its status quo. Therefore, network expansion is an increasing necessity within Germany. The German low- and medium-voltage level networks, which already accommodate the majority of energy from renewable energy installations, differ in their network structure and need to adapt to handle the changing production-consumption dynamic.
With the VRDT, Avacon AG has enabled the conversion of a medium voltage bandwidth to a regulated reference voltage at the low voltage bus bar of the local secondary substation (bus bar = metallic strip that conducts a substantial current of electricity). The technology allows the decoupling of the low voltage from medium voltage. In accordance with current regulations, the complete bandwidth of +/- 10% of the nominal voltage is then available for both medium and low voltage separately. The VRDT thus helps to release potential for the medium voltage grid that was formerly reserved for the low-voltage.
This means that the VRDT is improving the voltage quality and becoming a cost-effective alternative to a conventional grid expansion (laying parallel cables and transformer replacements).
Additional information: