Set under high voltage!
DFG funds expansion of scientific equipment infrastructure at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science'.
Professor Stefan Kornhuber has every reason to celebrate. Last December, shortly before Christmas, he received confirmation that his proposal, “800 kV High-Voltage DC Test Facility,” had been approved by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The DFG is funding the expansion of scientific equipment infrastructure at 16 universities of applied sciences with a total grant amount of 15 million euros.
One year ago, in March, the DFG launched a major equipment initiative for universities of applied sciences (HAW). “This funding initiative, specifically tailored to universities of applied sciences, aims to supplement and further expand existing good equipment infrastructure with a focus on knowledge-oriented research,” explains Prof. Kornhuber.
Embedded within the universities’ structural and scientific priorities, the funding taps into these institutions’ research potential, explains the professor of high-voltage engineering and theoretical electrical engineering. With this foundation in place, further DFG projects cannot be ruled out.
The Large-Scale Equipment Initiative is dedicated to the procurement of scientific equipment. Funding for accompanying measures and personnel is also to be provided.
"This will significantly strengthen the use and application of our equipment infrastructure for research in the future", Prof. Kornhuber is pleased.
”The DFG’s Main Committee followed the funding recommendations of the relevant review panel, the Committee for Scientific Equipment and Information Technology, and decided at its December meeting to fund 16 proposals of outstanding quality. Prof. Kornhuber: “For me personally and for my colleagues, the funding approval for our proposed high-voltage DC test facility was like a big Christmas present.”
Earlier this year, the second of a total of three calls for proposals was published as part of the Major Equipment Initiative for Universities of Applied Sciences, and the HSZG will also participate in this round.
"The DC voltage test facility for up to 800 kV will be used in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science ' in the High Voltage Technology department and will enable us to expand our research activities to include DC voltage applications for the first time in Zittau. Particularly in the area of the behavior of high-voltage insulators, DC voltage raises questions for experts that need to be solved for the stable operation of the currently introduced DC voltage corridors and future DC voltage grids.
In addition to an AC voltage system with up to 700 kV and a surge system with up to 1200 kV, the HSZG will in future have a DC voltage system with 800 kV. The system will support ongoing DFG projects in particular. In the future, there will be new opportunities for national and international cooperation."
Universities of Applied Sciences were each able to submit one project to the DFG with a proposed budget of up to one million euros and a duration of up to five years. The 2021 call for proposals generated a high level of interest: 72 proposals were received, covering a wide range of topics and disciplines.
