...the Christmas party is a fixed point on the calendar of the Institute of Electrical Power Systems (IEAN). Following this year's motto that "special times require special measures", we decided to hold our pre-Christmas get-together in 2020 virtually. Prof. Schürhuber summarised the smaller and larger highlights of the institute's year in his speech, the entire IEAN choir sang their way into the Advent season together, a virtual room escape game challenged the brain cells and one or two recited poems rounded off the event. Nonetheless, we are all already looking forward to when the social distance finally can be reduced to a good level and we can sit together again in the usual way.

The IEAN wishes all its friends and their loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2021!

In close cooperation with the IHS of Graz University of Technology, the IEAN carried out the final earthing measurement of the new Murkraftwerk Graz Puntigam. The aim of the measurement was to check the earthing, equipotential bonding and lightning protection system of the power plant, which is already in full operation.

IEAN and IHS accompanied the project Murkraftwerk Graz Puntigam from the very beginning with regard to the earthing, equipotential bonding and lightning protection system. In cooperation with the planners, a special earthing and lightning protection concept was developed for this power plant, which ensures the protection of persons, animals and property.

In close cooperation with IHS, IEAN carried out the final measurement of the earthing system of the new substation Villach Süd. The 220/110 kV Villach South substation is designed as an outdoor switchgear, serves as a grid support and is intended to contribute to the continued reliable supply of electricity in the Villach area. IEAN and IHS were involved in the project from the very beginning and contributed important aspects regarding the earthing and equipotential bonding and lightning protection system to the conceptual design of the substation. The aim of this measurement was to check the effectiveness of the earthing, equipotential bonding and lightning protection system to ensure the protection of persons, animals and property. Furthermore, the measurement results serve to verify the calculations of the earthing, equipotential bonding and lightning protection system of the Villach Süd substation carried out at IEAN.

The increasing number of scientific journals, technical literature and theses in the inventory of the Institute of Electrical Power Systems required a new structuring of the institute library. The outdated archiving system was replaced by the centrally administered library system of Graz University of Technology. Thus, in addition to books, all diploma and master theses, dissertations and habilitations have been added to the inventory system of the library of Graz University of Technology. During the following reorganization of the institute library, some treasures were rediscovered.

The grid restoration strategy after large-scale blackouts in Austria focuses on hydro power plants in Salzburg and Carinthia. The management of the grid restoration is not only trained on the simulator, but also regularly tested on the real grid through black start and island grid tests. On September 18, 2020, such tests were carried out by KELAG and Kärnten Netz with the Fragant power plant group. The Institute for Electrical Power Systems (IEAN) accompanied these tests as a scientific partner, carried out part of the measurements and took over the evaluation of the measurement data.

Changes in the Earth's magnetic field can cause unwanted low-frequency currents in our electrical transmission grid. These currents flow through grounded transformer star points. In a joint research project with the Austrian transmission grid operator APG and Siemens, IEAN measures these low-frequency currents, also known as geomagnetically induced currents (GIC).

In order to be able to measure these currents also in case of future geomagnetic disturbances (GMD), the hardware of some measuring devices was updated on September 23rd and 24th, 2020. IEAN would like to thank the APG staff who supported us with the maintenance.

In the past few days, despite the currently difficult circumstances, five students have successfully completed their Bachelor's or Master's thesis at IEAN.

Congratulations to Benjamin Jauk, Abedin Bytqi, Matthias Rüschitz and Konstantin Tschabuschnig for successfully defending their master thesis. Congratulations also to Peter Wohlfart on the successful completed his Bachelor thesis.

The IEAN wishes you success in your future professional life or in your further studies. You are cordially invited to visit the IEAN again in the future - we always look forward to see you again!

Despite the current circumstances, it is possible to start your Bachelor's or Master's thesis at the IEAN. You can find our currently advertised work on the website. If there is nothing suitable, please contact us by phone or e-mail.

In the course of filming a documentary on the topic of geomagnetically induced currents in Austria, the IEAN was invited to the Conrad Observatory. Prof. Renner presented our simulation tool in the tunnel and explained the activities of IEAN in this area and the importance of the entire research area.

In January 2020, IEAN installed another measuring device for recording low-frequency neutral point currents in the Austrian transmission grid. In a joint research project with APG and Siemens, the influence of low-frequency neutral point currents on power transformers and the transmission grid is being investigated. These currents are influenced, for example, by changing solar activity and are therefore also called geomagnetically induced currents (GIC). Thanks to APG and Siemens for their support!

In the pre-Christmas season 2019, the Institute of Electrical Power Systems measured the behavior of the earthing system at a 380 kV substation, located directly next to an electrified railway. The reason for this is the extension of the railway and the construction of a pedestrian crossing. The measurement results serve as a basis for the calculations, on which results the earthing systems of the future installations will be dimensioned in such a way that, after integration into the existing earthing system, the protection of persons and property can be guaranteed both in normal operation and in the event of a fault.

On 13th / 14th November, the second technical colloquium of energy technology took place at the Institute for Electrical Power Systems at the TU Graz.

Prof. Bernd Oswald from Hannover, Prof. Peter Schegner from Dresden, em. Prof. Lothar Fickert from Graz and Prof. Lutz Hofmann from Hannnover, discussed with Prof. Robert Schürhuber and Prof. Herwig Renner from the IEAN current developments in the field of energy technology and exchanged views on research results. Furthermore, the Grazer culture and gastronomy could impress the guests.

At the beginning of the week, on 30.09.2019, IEAN visited the Siemens transformer plant in Linz. In addition to a project meeting, the students and employees of the IEAN had the opportunity to visit the plant in Linz. At the Linz location, each transformer is developed and produced individually for the special applications of the customers. From core layering to acceptance testing, all process steps are carried out at the site in Linz.

The IEAN met on the 23.09.2019 in the Wachau in order to set the course for a successful future of the institute. Under the excellent leadership of Bernhard Ibertsberger, a lively discussion about the challenges and goals of the institute developed in the morning, which was dealt with in detail after lunch in small groups.

Through the open and eye-level discussion, the different interests of the institute members could be cast into a common vision for the development of the institute. The labor-intensive day ended with the one and other wine at a cozy sitting together in a local Heurigen.

The second day was completely devoted to energy engineering with the visits of the nuclear power plant Zwentendorf and the substation Dürnrohr. The Zwentendorf NPP is worldwide unique, because it has never been in service. Therefore, areas of the reactor can be inspected which are normally not accessible due to radiation exposure even after shutdown. Thus, a direct view into the pressure vessel of the boiling water reactor and the committing of the containment is possible.

The second day was completely devoted to energy engineering with the visits of the nuclear power plant Zwentendorf and the substation Dürnrohr. The Zwentendorf NPP is worldwide unique, because it has never been in service. Therefore, areas of the reactor can be inspected which are normally not accessible due to radiation exposure even after shutdown. Thus, a direct view into the pressure vessel of the boiling water reactor and the committing of the containment is possible.

After extensive restoration work, a model of a Francis turbine can now be seen in front of the rooms of the Institute of Electrical Power Systems.

Many thanks to ANDRITZ HYDRO GmbH for providing the turbine model and many thanks to the IHS mechanical workshop (Anton Schriebl and Christoph Probst) for built-up the metal substructure.

Prof. Schürhuber, DI D.Herbst, DI M.Fürnschuß

In the period from 20 August to 30 September 2019, the Institute of Electrical Power Systems was represented by four academics at Tongji University in Shanghai. During the first week, Prof. Dr. Schürhuber, the institute's head, held a special lecture on " From Energy Turnaround to Challenges for High Penetration of Renewable Energy ". Further lectures were given by Em. Prof. Dr. L. Fickert and Dr. Ziqian. Furthermore, Mr. Alexander Atzmueller supported the Institute for Rail Transit in the sense of deepening the scientific cooperation by evaluating technical literature regarding the reliability of the power supply in the metro area.

Zigian Zhang

On 21.06.2019 we received a delegation of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology at our institute. The high-ranking delegation of representatives of the government and the automotive industry visited the laboratory facilities of our Institute of Electrical Power Systems, the laboratory of the Electrical Drives and Machines Institute as well as the Nikola Tesla Laboratory of the Institute of High Voltage Engineering and System Performance. The trip of our Chinese partners focused on the latest scientific findings in the field of electric drives, alternative fuels and e-mobility. Our institute presented in the course of its projects around electrical safety as well as protection against electric shock at DC charging stations for electric vehicles.

Ziqian Zhang and Daniel Herbst

With the signing of the cooperation agreement on 24.06.2019 a new era of cooperation between the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Shanghai Dianji University and the Institute of Electrical Power Systems of Graz University of Technology has started. The two institutions, represented by Vice Rectors H.Bischof and D. Chen, our dean W.Bösch and professors R. Schürhuber and G. Chen, jointly unveiled a plaque in front of our institute expressing the university exchange. In addition to interesting discussions between the delegation participants and the representatives of Graz University of Technology, various laboratory facilities were also visited. We are already looking forward to a long-term partnership with our Chinese colleagues, for example in projects in the institute's own Power Hardware-in-the-Loop laboratory in the field of renewable energies.

Ziqian Zhang and Daniel Herbst

On 27.05.2019 we had again the opportunity to carry out an excursion to the thermal power plant Mellach of the Austrian Thermal Power Association as part of the lecture Electrical Energy Systems 2.

During this excursion, we were able to visit the coal-fired power station, the gas and steam power plant, the control room and the switchgear and receive detailed explanations on function and operation. We also got an interesting insight into the current driving style of thermal systems, which are strongly influenced by redispatch.

In sum, this excursion was an ideal complement to the lecture, in which the theory of thermal power plants was discussed in advance.

Under the title "Future Challenges for Electrical Power Systems", Prof. Schuerhuber's inaugural lecture was able to strike a balance between previous research work, the challenges in energy technology and the future research contributions of the Institute of Electrical Power Systems.

As a driving force for the changes in the energy sector, Prof. Robert Schuerhuber cites our rising consumption and mainly carbon-based production of energy. Due to the previous handling of raw materials, humans action influences the earth ecosystem more and more negatively. In order to counteract this negative trend, the electrical energy supply plays a key role. Due to the versatile usability, for example, in the area of mobility, air conditioning and heat engineering, resources can be used more effectively. The Institute of Electrical Power Systems do research for example in the field of sector coupling and in the planning and operation of large networks.

After the inaugural lecture, numerous guests from industry, families and universities discussed in a pleasant atmosphere in the foyer of the Energy Center Graz.

The Institute

In October 2017, Prof. Robert Schuerhuber took over the Institute of Electrical Systems from Prof. Lothar Fickert. In order to highlight the current and future research activities in the field of energy networks, the institute bears the name "Institute of Electrical Power Systems". The three core competences of the institute lie in the areas of

• calculation and planning of energy systems and of the grid connection for generating plants,
• analysis of quality of supply and supply reliablility,
• Assessment of earthing systems and questions regarding personal safety.

Under the motto Team Building, the winter sports enthusiasts of the IEAN spent a day of skiing in Schladming. With the view of a lot of sunshine and 20 cm of fresh snow on the slope, on March 12th, they started in the best of moods towards Planai and Hochwurzen.

On the last downhill, the employees competed in a downhill race.

Around 4 pm, the all-round successful skiing day ended with the last swing - the “Einkehrschwung” - at the valley station in Schladming. With a good day of skiing in the thighs and uninjured, all employees started their way back home to Graz at 5:30 pm.

The last stop of the field trip was to the district heating plant of Stadtwerke Klagenfurt, the central hub of the Klagenfurt district heating network and the location of the energy control center of Stadtwerke Klagenfurt. Until the turn of the millennium, a coal-fired combined heat and power plant (CHP) was operated at the site. After decommission of the CHP plant, modern gas boilers were put into operation to ensure the supply of the city with district heating. During the dismantling of the old steam power plant, the 70-year-old brick-built boiler and a partially dismantled turbine-generator were obtained.