At Deutsche Bahn, we have set ourselves the ambitious goal of being climate-neutral by 2040. The use of renewable energy and new technologies is a central building block for achieving this. To be better equipped to research and test innovative technologies and energy systems under real conditions, we have opened a living lab - RealLabor Energie in Berlin.
Our task is to adapt Deutsche Bahn's energy requirements to meet the challenges of decarbonizing energy. RealLabor Energie is important in helping us achieve our goal. With it, we can test the technologies we are developing to improve the infrastructure, trying them out at various stages. The conditions are ideal, as they offer both the freedom provided by a laboratory and the simulation of real-life challenges encountered in DB's stationary facilities. To conduct our tests, we link up existing technical components with new ones, such as photovoltaic systems, EV charging stations and second-life battery storage systems.
Customized solutions for green energy
Initiated by DB Energie and DB Bahnbau Gruppe, RealLabor Energie is a joint project within the DB Group. The two partners are working side by side to find a way for us to introduce a more sustainable energy supply at our locations. Other parties such as DB Systel have a supporting role in the cooperation.
We have set up a showroom at the heart of the testing site on Markgrafendamm. It showcases all the living lab components installed there, interlinked in a network on which energy flows, interactions and dependencies are mapped. Tools such as visualization and automation software and smart meters help us to bring all the elements together.
The components of the RealLabor at a glance
Second-life battery storage
The second-life battery storage system at the RealLabor Energie site consists of used electric car batteries. A total of 27 lithium-ion batteries were reconditioned for this purpose. The renewable power generated on site is stored here.
Photovoltaic carport
Renewable power is generated on site via a photovoltaic system, among other things. The PV modules are installed on the roof of the carport and have a total output of 7.38 kWp.
Solarmover
The Solarmover is an innovative PV module. The special feature of the so-called "solar flower" is the fan-shaped arrangement of the individual modules, which can align themselves independently to the sun and thus continuously generate energy.
Charging infrastructure
A total of three AC charging stations and one DC charging station are installed on the RealLabor site. A dedicated load management system is used to optimally control the charging stations and limit the overall output.
Low-voltage main distribution board
The low-voltage main distribution board is the heart of the RealLabor. It forms the interface to the public grid and links all energy generation, storage and consumption components. The capacity is designed so that further modules can be integrated into the grid in the future. Meters for data acquisition ensure that different metering and measurement concepts can be tested.
Hydrogen filling station
A 25-foot container on the site houses a hydrogen tank system. Although it is currently only used for demonstration and training purposes, it could act as a consumer of electricity and use the integrated electrolysis to produce hydrogen and thus store energy.
We have interlinked all the components in a smart microgrid, which is a small-scale intelligent and self-contained power grid that we can test under as-real conditions. This will allow us in the future to generate renewable power on site, store it and make it available for use. The central monitoring and metering systems ensure that the individual elements are joined up in the most efficient way possible, meaning that fluctuations in power flow within the network can be balanced out when necessary.
Taking steps toward decarbonizing energy
From planning to implementation: even putting together the RealLabor Energie is a learning experience and a significant part of testing. How we arrange and integrate the individual components in the overall system provides us with useful information that we can apply in subsequent operations. Our testing of the control mechanisms between the technology components using the energy management system installed also offers valuable insights.
In the coming months, we will be adding several new components to the smart microgrid. An electrolyzer and a mobile refueling point for HVO biofuel are some of the features being planned. In the medium term, we want to use smart, digital and dynamic ideas to create even more sustainable solutions to the challenges associated with decarbonizing energy that are being seen all across the DB Group. And if everything works, the technologies we are testing at RealLabor Energie today could be in use at various DB locations tomorrow.
