Tallinn University of Technology

TalTech DC Innovation Hub

Table of Contents

Residential DC Innovation Hub

A birthplace of innovation in Direct Current (DC) technologies for the electrification of future zero-emission buildings

At the end of 2023, the Power Electronics Group of TalTech established a novel research facility - the Residential DC Innovation Hub. It will be actively developing as the first DC Experience Center in Northern Europe.

DChub

Mission

The Residential DC Innovation Hub will establish a link between leading researchers and green energy companies to boost innovation and accelerate the deployment of market-ready vendor-agnostic technology, standards, and power electronics DC solutions in Estonia and the EU. Zero-emission buildings based on DC distribution will play a crucial role in the future electrification of the economy toward a sustainable society.

Motivation

Being one of the steps toward achieving climate neutrality of the TalTech campus by 2035, this living lab is the first direct current (DC) building in the northern countries. Here, various DC technologies are implemented and tested, aiming to develop a DC microgrid for households. This technology will change residential energy supply principles, optimize energy flows, and increase the energy efficiency of future buildings. This is the only setting in Baltic states where DC solutions are continuously piloted to demonstrate the benefits of DC technology for Beneficial Electrification.

Benefits of DC vs. AC

  • Up to 20% energy savings from more efficient power conversion and distribution, especially with the local use of renewable energy (solar photovoltaics, battery energy storage and heat pump)
  • Up to 30% less use of raw materials, like copper, aluminum and iron, due to better utilization of wires and the absence of line-frequency transformers
  • Up to 20% reduction in lifecycle costs when a building is fully converted to DC
  • Easy implementation of Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies
  • Resilient power supply during blackouts and minimized impact on power grid with possibilities to support grid stability
  • Enables a variety of new revenue streams for homeowners from participation in energy services
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Main features of the Hub:

  • 2 working places for students/postdocs
  • Thermally insulated for year-round operation
  • 350V±30V DC droop-controlled microgrid (operating system Current/OS)
  • Heat pump fed from DC
  • Solar facade composed of 5 c-Si PV modules
  • Solar roof with 3 south-facing and 3 north-facing c-Si PV modules
  • LED lighting fed from DC
  • Battery energy storage
  • Solid-state protection (both commercial and research samples)
  • DC appliances (continuous development)
  • Data logging and visualization (online access soon)

Opportunities

  • Validation of the novel DC power distribution concept for energy-efficient buildings

  • Demonstration of the real example of zero-emission building

  • Validation and demonstration of the net-zero-energy solutions (workplace, space heating and cooling, ventilation, etc.)

  • Blending the everyday real-life experience of pilot users with academic research to develop future-proof urban energy technologies

  • Demonstration, testing, and showcasing power electronic systems developed by the partners of the i3DC Initiative and the Power Electronics Group of TalTech.

  • Testing and validation opportunities for international and Estonian enterprises producing residential energy products, like solar roofs/facades, energy storages, aggregated energy management solutions, etc.

  • A unique setting for collaboration between TalTech and international research groups and centers under the umbrella of the Center of Excellence in Energy Efficiency (2024-2030).

  • Mobile showcasing platform for presenting DC developments and innovations at events and exhibitions

  • Data collection for the future design of the energy-neutral campus.

  • Piloting opportunities for Horizon Europe projects.