Science, industry and government seek solution to grid congestion via large-scale testbed on TU/e campus

Commissioning of mega-battery package kicks off development of smart energy concept

Inthe search for solutions to current grid congestion problems, science, industry and government are joining forces, killing two birds with one stone. With the OPZuid project GENIUS, TU/e, together with involved companies, municipalities and the province, wants to tackle grid congestion and at the same time set up a sustainable testing ground for relevant future innovations. The starting shot is the commissioning of a battery pack of no less than a sea container in size for storing electrical energy on Monday 18 November.

Genius battery

The GENIUS battery is an essential part of a smart control platform that coordinates different industrial users, energy sources and storage systems to prevent energy spikes. The lithium iron phosphate battery contains no cobalt or nickel and acts not only as an energy storage, but also as a control tool. It can coordinate and optimise complex data, enabling it to advise on and anticipate various energy needs of the more than 40 faculty and business buildings on the TU/e campus on which some 15,000 people depend every day. The energy hub is connected to the public energy grid, allowing energy to be delivered back or shared with nearby users.

Spreading the morning and evening rush hour

This battery pack ensures that the TU/e no longer causes overruns on its contracted power and better balances energy consumption. Simply put, the congestion problem on the energy grid (congestion) is solved by spreading the morning and evening rush hours. This offers room for further sustainability and expansion on campus within the current contracted capacity. Think, for example, of heat pumps in combination with Heat and Cold Storage (WKO) and the arrival of a new clean room.

Peakshaving

Thanks to smart charging and discharging and peak shaving (energy storage when demand is low and deployment during peak periods), the package easily pays for itself. For the TU/e, it provides an estimated 20% extra space on its own energy network and capacity, as less energy has to be purchased at unfavourable moments (during 'rush hours'), thus lowering overall costs.

Grid congestion

This is also beneficial for grid congestion in general, as the TU/e will 'get out of congestion' at such peak times. More gains can be made in (among other things) the field of (minimal) CO2 emissions, balancing grid congestion on a regional and national level (the TU/e can use more energy without increasing its connection, leaving capacity for the surrounding area), energy security, peak reduction or preventing energy connection overruns.

Findings

Meanwhile, on 08 March 2025 the first findings are known with an additional space in capacity of 1 MW, read the message here

More

The results are of great interest also for other parts of the Netherlands with grid capacity issues. For more results, see the TU/e news site.

The consortium around OPZuid GENIUS consists of the following parties: TU/e Department of Real Estate, EIRES, EAISI, Fudura, RIFT, Simpl.Energy, Voltgoed, VBOptimum, ZEnMo, Cube Charging, Enerzien, Eindhoven Engine and Woonbedrijf. An active and connected support group includes province and municipality as well as regional grid operator Enexis. This project was co-financed by the European Union through the award of an OPZuid grant.

For an English version click here.