The European Energy Transition and the European Green Deal are key drivers of innovation and development prioritising energy efficiency and increasing renewable sources within the power sector, making it essential that the European energy market is integrated, interconnected and digitalised. This has been a driver for the creation and further development of the  UDEX research infrastructure and provides the possibility of taking a holistic approach in relating research activities over the different inter-related and interconnected layers of physical systems (components and grids), digital infrastructures, and communications (data/information exchange) to market and business strategies through the use of a flexible and digitalized network.

In 2013, Ormazabal Corporate Technology (OCT) expanded its existing R&D capabilities by constructing its own experimental network laboratory (UDEX, from its Spanish initials) on 3500m2 of land on a new industrial park on the outskirts of Amorebieta, a village 20km from Bilbao. This network consists of more than 15km of underground cables, 500m of overhead lines, more than 70 automated switchgears, as well as an extensive LV network. It was built  with the intention of carrying out research, development and testing for smart grid technologies and applications. In addition, to facilitate access to a smart grid network having a high degree of flexibility, UDEX allows researchers to reproduce real conditions of existing worldwide grid topologies at variable voltage levels from different sources at different power frequencies.

Whether the testing carried out is for a specific technology or a holistic systems approach, a fully automated and digitalised control system is imperative. The UDEX management system (UMS) controls the operation of the infrastructure so that it can be run according to a certain strategy, physically connecting/disconnecting elements, changing network topology by means of a fully automated operation. The facility allows the research and development of the connection, integration and validation of new technologies, assessment of their impact on the network, as well as the holistic view of operation of the complete network.
 

An important tool for the research, development and evaluation of new technologies for the future grid and for anticipating problems, which may appear under the most realistic conditions.

UDEX’s concept consists of a highly configurable distribution network independent from the grid which allows the development and testing of new technologies, products & services in a safe and controlled environment, positioning Ormazabal at the high-end of world-class R&D capabilities (JRC-Smart Grid Laboratories Inventory), providing (but not limited to) the following services:

•    Electrical protections and network automation.
•    Network diagnostic systems.
•    Power Line Communications (PLC).
•    AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructures)
•    Active demand management.
•    Integration of distributed and renewable generation in the grid.
•    Bidirectional power flow.
•    Dynamic configuration of the distribution network.
•    Electric vehicle integration in the distribution network.
•    Integration of energy storage systems.
•    Power electronics.
•    Power quality and efficiency.
•    Impact on the safety (EMF, step and touch voltages, short circuit behaviour...)

In addition, in the UDEX there are seven special test cases, related to the ERIGrid 2.0 project, with singular capabilities in the specific fields of voltage regulation, MV network compatibility, network diagnosis, powerline communications, and smart metering:

•    UDEX IoG (Intenet of Grids): Development, validation and testing of different algorithms of big-data processing that retrieve data from the locally installed LV feeders, Data Concentrators (DC) and smart-meters, this space will also serve as a research baseline for fraud detection and automatic feeder mapping.

•    Regulation of network voltages to maintain quality of supply affected by integration of renewables and/or significant intermittent loads: Functional validation of local or decentralized voltage regulating systems in a real distribution network environment, with different MV Network Configurations, voltage levels (0-36kV), Power Frequencies,  and controllable loads and power injection.

•    Testing of data collecting transmission and processing systems in distribution networks: Functional validation of devices, software and algorithms dealing with data coming from real network environments with different Network Configurations, neutral configuration, Power Frequency, Network Voltage Level the loads, and power injection to the system are controllable parameters.

•    Asset management of network and its components through online technologies: Functional validation of network diagnostic equipment and systems, from simple detection devices to complete monitoring systems, in real MV network environment. Especially focused on validation of systems to do all or some of the following: Detection, analysis, identification, localization and evaluation of defects arising from PD sources and the communication of this data to supervision interface. Network and neutral configuration, Power Frequency , MV Network Voltage Level , Measurement Bandwidth, defect type and location being controllable parameters to perform the assessment of the system.

•    Testing of functional compatibility of combined sensors with MV & PLC signal measurements in the Medium Voltage Networks: Simultaneous Compliance of Precision & communications performance of combined sensors, using a real distribution network with different components under test (Combined sensors, RTU, PLC modems, measurement cables, MV Network Configurations). Network and neutral configuration, Power Frequency, MV Network Voltage Level, and Communications Bandwidth can be controllable parameters.

•    Testing of functional narrowband powerline communications in distribution networks: Compliance with communications performance requirements, using a real distribution network with different components under test (PLC modems/Data concentrators, Meters, Network Configurations, MV/LV Transformers, Switchgears, Sniffers). Network and neutral configuration, Power Frequency , MV Network Voltage Level , and Communications Bandwidth can be controllable parameters. This system allows also to change the length and type of the LV lines and network topology, the number and type of meters, in such a way that not only individual meters can be tested but also entire meter systems and the interoperability performance.

•    Validation of correct functioning of IED systems in a real network in the face of transient overvoltages / overcurrents occurring during typical switching operations in the MV network: Functional validation of IED’s in a real network environment tested with different MV Network Operations, especially during and after transients occurring during network switching. Neutral configuration, Power Frequency and MV Network Voltage Level can be controllable parameters.
 

Digital Electricity Grids Node within the Basque Digital Innovation Hub (BDIH) - Member of he European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) network:

The digitalisation of electricity grids and incorporation of new technologies are essential steps towards the energy transition: large-scale integration of renewables while maintaining efficiency and security of supply, the entry of new stakeholders with the capacity to manage demand (“prosumers”, aggregators, energy communities, etc.), storage and recharging systems, etc.

Digitalisation is a key trend for businesses operating in the electricity sector, pushing them to evolve their offer towards technology solutions involving ever-increasing levels of intelligence and high added value services to aid the transition towards a more distributed, digitalised, de-carbonised grid. 

The Digital Electricity Grids Node brings together the leading technical-scientific stakeholders with capacity to face the digitalisation challenges. Through this initiative OCT has become part of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) network. These hubs support private companies, including SMEs and start-ups, and the public sector in their digital transformation.  

EQUIPMENT

ELECTRIC SCHEME / IMAGES

KNOWLEDGE

PROJECTS

Transnational Access User Projects hosted by UDEX during ERIGrid:

Ormazabal is very active in nationally and internationally recognized electrical products and services for distribution networks, contributing to the development of common visions, roadmaps and strategies for the energy sector and having an excellent perspective and vision of future challenges. This networking structure is complemented by a large experience in national and international research projects based on the research and technology development capabilities of OCT.

In addition to the UDEX infrastructure, OCT has a long-standing experience in the fields of high power, high voltage, temperature-rise, and environmental testing , being an accredited laboratory according to EN ISO/IEC 17025 for many testing activities. These Labs, branded as BELA-Boroa, are associated with the Accredited Labs of TECNALIA and ARTECHE (also located close to Bilbao) in the Basque Electrical Laboratories Alliance (BELA), to offer a wider range of  facilities and expertise to the T&D industry. 

We are actively involved in several technical committees, which enables us to keep up to speed with test procedures and to provide state-of-the-art information on standard developments. In 2015 our laboratories applied for STL membership under AELP (Spanish Association of Power Laboratories) and we are currently participating in the work of the  STL Technical Committee as applicants.

Future plans

Over the coming years, it is probable that new technologies and standards in the field of smartgrids and power electronics will be developed. In anticipation of these developments, the necessary space and connections to install the required equipment to develop these technologies are available.