Network of DER Laboratories and Pre-Standardisation

The European Union set a binding target for 20% of the EU's total energy supply to come from renewables by 2020. The resulting high penetration rate of distributed renewable energy sources, which are typically intermittent, will affect the electricity power system. Grid inverters are the key elements to massively integrate distributed renewable energy sources into the power system. Aim of this series of workshops is to define common European requirements for the grid inverter of the future.

Developing an European vision step by step

This series of workshops has been initiated as a result of an international discussion at the DERlab workshop on "DER laboratories of Excellence, Testing, and Standards" that was held at the "2nd International Conference on Integration of Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources" in Napa, California, Dec. 2006.

1st DERlab Workshop on Grid Inverters combined with the CIRED 2008 Seminar on Smart Grids for Distribution
The first "DERlab Workshop on Grid Inverters" took place in Germany, Frankfurt on June 25, 2008 in connection with the CIRED Seminar 2008 on smart grids for distribution. It was the kick-off for writing the "International White Book on the Grid Integration of Static Converters". With more than 50 participants from universities, DER test laboratories, distributed system operators and industry it shows the high relevance of this issue to the scientific community and the industry.

2nd DERlab Workshop on Grid Inverters combined with the 13th Kasseler Symposium Energy Systems Technology - Power Converters in Grids
Active discussions about the tasks of grid inverters in a working group

On the second DERlab workshop the chapter editors presented the first draft of the "International White Book on the Grid Integration of Static Converters". In parallel sessions the workshop participants pictured their visions 2020 for the tasks of static converters in distribution grids. Now the draft European white book is in the process of elaborating and editing.

This European draft will then be discussed on international level during the third DERlab workshop, which will run just before the "3rd International Conference on Integration of Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources" in Nice, December 9, 2008.



Regional DERlab workshops

To discuss the elaborated long term inverter requirements on a broad basis and to account for different points of view across Europe regional workshops are planned. See regional events for more information.