To main content

Smart Grid Laboratory

NTNU and SINTEF have built a new National Smart Grid Laboratory in Trondheim with funding from the Research Council of Norway in cooperation with the Artic University of Norway and Smart Innovation Østfold.

Contact persons

SmartGridLab
Smart Grid Laboratory

The laboratory is a systemoriented laboratory providing state-of-the-art infrastructure for R&D, demonstration, verification and testing over a wide range of Smart Grid use cases.


Booking of the Smart Grid Laboratory 


 

See the laboratory brochure (pdf)


New project: SDN MicroSense

Laboratory concept:

A specific feature of the laboratory is the opportunity to integrate real-time simulations and physical power system assets (hardware in-the-loop) with ratings up to 200 kVA, 400 V AC or 700 V DC.

Laboratory inventory / capabilities

  • Transmission systems (AC/DC)
  • Distribution systems
  • Generation (Large scale, DG, wind farms, PV, hydro..)
  • AC/DC converters: Voltage Source Converters (VSC) and Multi-Level Converters (MMC)
  • Rotating machinery: Induction generators/motors (IG), Synchronous generators/motors (SG), Permanent magnet generators/motors (PM)
  • Grid emulator (200 kVA amplifier , DC to 5 kHz)
  • Real-Time Digital Simulators, Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) testing equipment and Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) systems (OPAL-RT)
  • Battery pack tester / Battery emulator  
  • EV charging infrastructure

Application areas / Domains supported

  • Smart transmission grids
  • HVDC grids
  • Smart active distribution grids
  • Micro grids
  • Integration of Smart Grids, Smart houses and smart industries Integration of renewables (large scale, DG)
  • Smart Grid and home automation
  • Smart electricity use
  • Electrification of transport
  • Energy storage in Smart Grids
  • Energy conversion in Smart Grids
  • Power system stability in Smart Grids
  • Monitoring, control and automation in Smart Grids
  • Communication technologies for Smart Grids
  • Information security and privacy in Smart Grids
  • Reliability challenges in Smart Grids -dependencies of Power Grid and ICT
  • Smart grid software
  • Big data management and analytics in SmartGrids

Laboratory use


This short video introduces the Norwegian Smart Grid Lab run by SINTEF and NTNU, Trondheim and how it can interact with another national laboratory -  the Cyber Range, NTNU Gjøvik -  to study and test cybersecurity for Electrical Power Systems and stations. SINTEF and NTNU are both partners in the EU project SDN µSense* focusing on this topic).

*SDN-microSENSE aims at providing and demonstrating a secure, resilient to cyber-attacks, privacy-enabled, and protected against data breaches solution for decentralised Electrical Power and Energy Systems (EPES)


 


Tour of the Norwegian National Smart Grid Laboratory

This video is from the ECODIS project and shows an example of smartgrids and digital substations that can be replicated in the Smart Grid Laboratory.


 

 

Smart Home Management System

Test of devices, equipment, control technology and strategies for smart home energy, indoor climate and home security and safety. In the project, different architectures (central intelligence versus distributed intelligence) and systems (e.g. LonWorks, KNX,...) were investigated and tested for different scenarios realising basic functions such temperature, ventilation and light controls, integration with smart meters, remote control, smart phone integration etc.

Multi-terminal HVDC grid connecting offshore wind farms

Large multi-terminal HVDC grids are predicted for future implementation. We verified a control strategy that will ensure safe and stable operation of such grids. This was done using a future scenario featuring a North Sea supergrid connecting 3 countries with a large share of wind power (> 50%). The strategy maintained grid stability despite large variations in produced wind power. The number of converters and machines of the lab enabled this large and complex experiment.

Frequency support from wind turbines

If wind turbines can support the electrical grid operation during faults then larger wind farms can be installed in areas with weak grids. We verified and quantified the effect of different control strategies on wind turbine performance during faults. The quantification included the effects of implementation on real hardware compared to software simulation. Tests were done for the two prevailing generator technologies that are used for wind turbines.

Product testing and verification

New products and solutions often need to be tested and verified in laboratory conditions before being commercialized. We have provided a test platform for different manufacturers to test their equipment, e.g. voltage boosters, short-circuit impedance measurement tools and power quality analysers.

Micro grid

The integration of real-time simulated power systems and controls interfaced with a small model micro grid is shown in the figure. The objective of the setup, is to test various microgrid control strategies.

200 kVA Power Hardware in the loop (PHIL)

The purpose of the 200 kVA PHIL solution in the Smart Grid Laboratory is emulate power systems, devices and controls and their integration to physical model power systems, devices and controls to study system behaviour and performance for a reasonable power ranges and frequencies. The advantage compared to the testing of use cases at very low powers and voltages, is the ability to model certain physical phenomena in a realistic way (e.g. rotating machinery thermal effects and time constants). The figure shows the Power Hardware in the Loop setup with the OPAL RT real-time simulators (OP5600), the I/O devices (OP4520) and the 200 kVA, 5kHz Egston power amplifi er.

Example of physical power system setup

The Laboratory is very flexible with respect to topology and configuration.

Expertise

Electric transport

Transportation will be electric in the future. It can come from pure electric operating from batteries or via conversion of hydrogen in a fuel cell. Also hybrid solutions are a possibility.

Electrical energy conversion

Electrical energy conversion

Electrical energy conversion can be defined as the conversion of a set of values ​​of current, voltage and frequency to a different set of such values.

Energy systems analysis

On the basis of our experience from developments in the Nordic energy market, which is one of the first efficient markets of its type, we provide analyses for a society in a constant state of change.

Flexible distribution grid

The amount of demand response and distribution generation from renewable energy sources will increase in the future distribution grid, at the same time as the grid should be robust and reliable.

Grid connection of offshore wind farms

Grid connection of offshore wind farms

The connection of offshore wind farms to the grid is an important research field because while the process is currently responsible for a large proportion of costs, the potential for cost reduction is great.

HVDC transmission

HVDC transmission

HVDC technologies have the greatest potential for the transmission of high-voltage electricity over very long distances.

Interaction DSO/TSO/customer

Today's limited operational interaction between DSOs and TSOs needs to be strengthened, due to, e.g., more variable distributed generation (DG) and regulatory requirements.

Market based handling of imbalances

The increasing share of renewable energy (wind, solar)  can create imbalances and major challenges for the Transmission System Operators (TSOs)

Microgrids

A self-sustaining and secure energy system is one of the main pillars of future society.

Power Electronics

Power Electronics

The conversion of electric power by means of power electronics (converters) is playing an increasingly important role in various parts of the power system.

Power markets

On the power exchange Nord Pool power prices are calculated every hour in different areas on daily basis.

Power quality

Society has become increasingly dependent on a stable electricity supply, where the power grid and electrical appliances / equipment functions without disturbing each other.

Reliable Power Electronics

Reliable Power Electronics

The conversion of electrical energy using power electronics has assumed an increasingly important role in various aspects of the power system.

Security of Electricity Supply

Security of Electricity Supply

Tomorrow’s electrical power system must be able to handle greater variations in power and energy flows, as well as the introduction of new smart components and technologies.

Smart meters

Hydropower has electrified Norway more than any other country.

Subsea - Offshore Power Supply

The costs for repair and maintenance of high voltage equipment installed in deep waters can be very high. Therefore, high operating reliability is crucial for the components placed at the seabed.

Subsea power electronics

Subsea power electronics

We have successfully combined theoretical understanding of power semiconductor and knowledge of the operating principles of power electronic converters.

Transmission systems

Transmission systems

A transmission system consists of overhead lines and underground cables, combined with power transformers for voltage level conversion.

Contact information

Contact at NTNU: 

Basanta Raj Pokhrel 
Research Scientist

Kjell Sand 
Professor Emeritus

+4748164542

The laboratory is a joint facility NTNU - SINTEF
The laboratory is co-located with the Electrotechnical laboratories at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)