Digital electrification infrastructure

The digital electrification research infrastructure (RI) consists of three essential elements: systems, digitalization solutions and data.

Systems consist of electrification areas and the control and management systems of those.

The most essential areas are the mobile working machines and the energy communities (microgrids).

Those consist of electricity systems combined with several power electronic converters in energy storage like batteries, photovoltaic, electric vehicle charging points, etc.

Each system has internal structures, but they create a system of systems via digitalization systems, electricity grid and markets.

The systems are exchanging information for operational and control purposes, energy optimization and market participation, condition management, etc.

Digitalization solutions include sensors and measurement devices, communication and information exchange systems that are needed to control, monitor and optimize the systems’ operations, realize services and capabilities via digitalization and securing the performance of electricity and electrified systems as a whole.

The data element creates a platform for the RI to store and share measurements, control actions and logging information in managed way, ensuring continuity of data access and methods to express metadata.

Data is shared among researchers and students as openly as possible.

The RI creates an entity both in physical/electrical and digital worlds.

It combines several field and laboratory infrastructures into one complete platform, allowing the same devices to be utilized for working machines, other vehicles and energy communities, while one digitalization and data platform facilitates all information exchanges and data streams.

The RI will integrate existing laboratories at Tampere University and field measurement systems.

Existing laboratory infrastructures are needed to extend to areas which are missing or at the end of their lifetime.

The digital electrification infrastructure is a replica of its real-life counterpart both in physical and digital levels.

This enables a system of systems approach in research, covering electricity and electrification systems, information and communication technology solutions as part of critical infrastructure, data analytics, business models, etc.