July 1, 2016 saw the launch of the cross-sector DC research project 'DC Industry'. The aim of the project is to implement the energy transition in industrial production and bring more energy efficiency and energy flexibility to industrial production. To this end, the power supply for industrial systems is to be redesigned via a smart, open DC grid and the industrial energy supply architecture is to be digitalized. According to the ZVEI, this will create the industrial energy system of the future - a DC-based smart grid for industry.

Production supplied with energy in this way should offer numerous advantages: Thanks to intelligent grid control and integrated storage, it can react flexibly and robustly to fluctuating grid quality and energy supplies, according to ZVEI. It should also be possible to integrate renewable energies more easily and avoid conversion losses from AC to DC voltage. Energy savings result, among other things, from the simpler use and buffering of braking energy, known as regenerative braking, in DC grids.

The project participants

The project, funded with six million euros and coordinated by Siemens, was initiated by 15 partners together with eleven associated partners in the ZVEI. Over the next three years, test facilities are to be built at companies including Daimler, Homag Group and KHS.

The 15 partners Siemens, Bauer Gear Motor, Baumüller, Bosch Rexroth, Daimler, Danfoss, Eaton, KHS, Lenze, LTI Motion, Weidmüller, Fraunhofer IISB, Fraunhofer IPA, Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences, University of Stuttgart are working together with the eleven associated partners ABB Stotz-Kontakt, E-T-A Elektronische Apparate, Harting, Homag Group, Jean Müller GmbH Elektrotechnische Fabrik, Leoni Special Cables, Phoenix Contact, SEW-PowerSystems, U.I. Lapp, Yaskawa and the ZVEI.