DC Hub Austria
The growing relevance of direct current (DC) technology is accompanied by an increasing demand for high-performance testing infrastructure for DC systems. While high-voltage and extra-high-voltage direct current transmission lines (HVDC) are already established, applications in the field of low-voltage and medium-voltage direct current systems (LVDC, MVDC) are currently developing rapidly. As part of the energy transition, new fields of application for DC systems are emerging—particularly in the integration of photovoltaic and wind power plants into public grids, at the interfaces to e-mobility (e.g. medium-voltage multi-megawatt charging systems), and to storage systems such as batteries, electrolysers, and fuel cells.
Project objectives
The exploratory project ‘DC Hub Austria’ is investigating the feasibility of a research and demonstration facility for medium-voltage direct current distribution (MVDC) at the AIT site in Seibersdorf. The aim is to advance technology development in the field of medium-voltage direct current systems by establishing a suitable research infrastructure. This facility is intended to serve as a catalyst for new developments and provide an infrastructure that gives small and medium-sized industrial companies in particular access to research and development that they would not be able to achieve on their own.
Role of AIT
The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is playing a central role in the project. At its Seibersdorf site, the AIT has a total area of approximately 1 km², with existing infrastructure that includes a 110 kV power line, a gas pipeline in the immediate vicinity, three wind farms in the surrounding area and a substation 5 km away. These conditions offer ideal conditions for the construction of the planned research and demonstration facility.
With the ‘DC Hub Austria’ project, AIT is expanding its existing infrastructure and strengthening its position as a leading research institution in the field of direct current technology. The project is not only intended to drive technological development, but also to serve as a platform for cooperation with industrial partners and contribute to the implementation of the energy transition.
Funding
This project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and carried out as part of the ‘Energy Research 2023’ programme.
