Renewable model region harz: Climate protection and energy efficiency by modern ict and innovative operation strategies

The fast growth of the share of distributed and renewable energy generation is a common European target. It contributes to the protection of energy resources and environment as well as to the reduction of the dependency of primary energy imports. The integration of RES into the electric energy system has become an important challenge for the utilization and control of electric power systems, because of the fluctuating and intermittent behaviour of wind and solar power generation. In the Renewable Model Region Harz project (Reg-ModHarz), different renewable energy producers, controllable consumers and energy storage devices will be coupled to a large virtual power plant (VPP). By the co-ordination of production, storage and consumption, the proof that a stable, reliable and consumer-oriented supply of electricity is possible even with a high share of RES will to be furnished. Based on this approach, a cooperative, regional power supply system will be developed and realized in the renewable model region. The communication-technical connection of producers and consumers by means of modern ICT-solutions makes it possible to capture and coordinate the respective consumption and production characteristics.