Ce topic appartient à l'appel Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply
Identifiant du topic: HORIZON-CL5-2023-D3-01-11

Demonstration of DC powered data centres, buildings, industries and ports

Type d'action : HORIZON Innovation Actions
Nombre d'étapes : Single stage
Date d'ouverture : 13 décembre 2022
Date de clôture : 30 mars 2023 17:00
Budget : €18 000 000
Call : Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply
Call Identifier : HORIZON-CL5-2023-D3-01
Description :

ExpectedOutcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes:

  • Demonstrated benefits and efficiency of DC power distribution systems compared to AC (no need of AC/DC conversion, less copper, less space occupancy, etc.).
  • Increased reliability and resilience of the grid provided by DC power distribution networks.

Scope:

Projects are expected to implement the activities in (1), the practical demonstration in (2) and the recommendations in (3) as described below:

1. Development of R&I activities, methodologies and tools for at least two of the sub-topics (A, B, C or D). These can be developed/complemented among them and/or with others pertinent to each sub-topic:

A. DC powered data centre:

  • Design and demonstration of a DC powered data centre. Feasibility of Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) distribution network to supply the DC powered data centre as well as to supply other DC loads and to collect the energy of DC sources.
  • Integration with the UPS systems, innovative generation, sustainable (hybrid) energy storage, etc.
  • Renewable energy systems integration.
  • Cost Benefit Analysis of the savings compared with the standard AC powered data centre.
  • As a supporting reference for data centres, The EU Code of Conduct Data Centres Energy Efficiency can be used.

B. Application of DC distribution in commercial and residential buildings

  • Feasibility of Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) distribution network to supply the DC powered commercial and residential buildings as well as to supply other DC loads and to collect the energy of DC sources.
  • Installation of intelligent DC system complete of all the related components (e.g., RES, DC bus, sockets, LED lighting, heat pumps, EV charging stations, sustainable storage systems, etc. The components can be either DC-based or AC-based and appropriately adapted to work within the DC grid.
  • Identification of the efficiency of a DC system compared to an AC system in the building sector and the corresponding cost savings.
  • Analysis and identification of the main barriers (technical and non-technical) for the development and deployment of MVDC and LVDC systems.

C. Application of DC distribution in industry

  • Development and demonstration of DC manufacturing process installation, protection and device technologies. Feasibility of Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) distribution network to supply the DC powered industry as well as to supply other DC loads and to collect the energy of DC sources.
  • Development of project management tools and methods.
  • Demonstration of increased energy efficiency measures such as, for example the use of variable-speed motors, led lighting, storage systems, etc.
  • Investigations to enable selectivity between circuit protection devices using different technologies, such as semiconductor breakers, hybrid semiconductor breakers, mechanical breakers and fuses.
  • Systems grounding to avoid stray currents and corrosion phenomenon from DC systems such as e.g., rail applications.
  • Insulation materials and their applicability for DC loads (investigation on suitability of AC cables for DC, on polarisation effects leading to early degradation and subsequent insulation failure, etc.).

D. Application of DC distribution in ports

  • Simulation, analysis, design, develop, test and demonstration of a DC port infrastructure. Feasibility of Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) distribution network to supply the DC powered ports as well as to supply other DC loads and to collect the energy of DC sources.
  • Study and development of a tool to estimate the quantity of DC charging infrastructure necessary to support regional adoption of ports’ electrification by MS.
  • CBA at system level of a DC compared to an AC supplied port considering all the elements contributing to a real effective analysis on the costs and benefits of the system.
  • Simulation, analysis, design, test and demonstration of all the IT needed for the grid automation.
  • Analysis and definition of possible operating framework and business models for ports acting as energy hubs.
  • Analysis, report and recommendations on the potential of the ports as energy hubs with related planning for its development within the energy transition.

2. Demonstration, test and validation of at least two of the sub-topics developed in (1) (A, B, C or D) in at least two pilots in different EU Member States/Associated Countries.

3. Identification of standardisation, regulatory barriers and related recommendations.

Specific Topic Conditions:

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.