We are shaping the digitalization at home and in the Smart City

With our various research projects throughout Europe, we were able to build one-of-a-kind expertise from which all customers benefit today.

As the driving force behind the development of data communication and data security solutions, devolo is creating international standards as part of its membership in renowned organisations and associations. devolo is involved in numerous national and international projects. The dedication ranges from collaboration with universities to co-operation with renowned companies in the industry.

Current Projects

LINCNET


Using light for networking: important strategic project of the Federal Ministry of Economics promotes digitization in healthcare and industry

Delfine


Enable industrial users to participate in price- and incentive-based demand response programmes.

PROGRESSUS


Climate protection through self-sufficient and block-chain-supported microgrids.

tbiEnergy


Added value by block-chain based energy trading for end consumers.

 

C/sells


C/sells is a unique showcase project regarding the decentralised transformation of the energy system via Smart Grid. C/sells demonstrates by which features the energy transition will be characterised: cellular, participative and diverse.

WindNODE


Showcasing smart energy systems from north-eastern Germany

Enera


In the Northwest German model region, our energy system is being raised to a new level of development

STeP


Powerline research. STeP develops practical communication solutions for the smart energy network.

MEDIT


Protection against IT attacks and IT outages for a secure, stable and reliable power supply in German networks.

Connect


21 European companies are researching a truly networked, efficient and secure Smart Grid.

"Joint, project-based research with other companies and with renowned universities and technical colleges ensures innovative and forward-looking solutions for a highly secure digitalization of economy and society.”

 

Dr. Anil Mengi, Vice President Strategic Positioning

Completed projects

Callia - Transnational integration of Renewable Energies into the European electricity grid

Europe's energy goals require reliable and comprehensive integration of renewable energy at all network and voltage levels. The co-ordination between transmission and distribution service operators necessary for accomplishing this goal has been the responsibility of national network operators to date. Power transmission across borders has been taking place only at the high-voltage level thus far.

SiDaFab - Secure data communication for the industry of the future

The goal of SiDaFab is to develop a new IT security solution for the industrial 4.0 environment, to significantly increase protection against data theft and manipulation through both hardware- and software-based security components.

SEnCom - System security of energy supply networks

The increasing integration of decentralised feeders and loads, particularly in the distribution network level, poses new challenges for network operation and planning.
In the future, networking and communication of a wide variety of power frequency components from the areas of status monitoring, control and regulation will be required. To ensure secure and reliable network operation, it is vital that communication interfaces and structures, particularly those with diminished physical access protection (on generation systems for end customers), do not cause any external interference in network operation.
The SEnCom project is intended to reveal challenges relevant to security and reliability during integration of the communication infrastructure into the distribution networks and analyse the possibility of external interference in communications systems and its effects on network operation. 

This analysis will expand on the current work of devolo, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Bremen University of Applied Sciences, RWTH Aachen University and the P3 Group.

ENERGIE - Measurement of the low-voltage side network state variables in real time

devolo, together with municipal utility Krefeld Netze GmbH and Janitza electronics GmbH, and academic partners, the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf and the University of Duisburg-Essen, is researching the application of G3-PLC technology at the distribution network level in the joint project "Measurement of the low-voltage side network state variables in real time" (ENERGIE - Erfassung der niederspannungsseitigen Netzzustandgrößen in Echtzeit). The overarching goal is to determine, using sensors, the network condition at only important strategic points on the low-voltage side and to use this data for network planning and operational concerns of network management. This approach does not conform to the previous concepts that provided comprehensive equipment with smart meters and is currently the only one of its kind. Using mathematical processes (e.g. state estimation), network conditions are to be determined in real time in a location and time-related manner. The results and insights from this project are examined for their relevance to real-world application as part of a real-world field test and statistically evaluated.

SmartLive - sustainable innovation development in the Living Lab for the smart home/smart energy

The research focus for the SmartLive project is on the user-friendliness of smart home systems. Active incorporation of end consumers ensures that the formulated solutions meet the needs of users.

In this project, devolo is supplying hardware and software (devolo Home Control) and optimising its smart home solution based on the research findings. As a Powerline pioneer, devolo is also lending its valuable experiences with home networking and the smart grid sector. The future integration of power meter data and flexible electricity rates into the smart home represents a significant area of research at devolo. This also includes the development of a control box that can regulate devices such as heat pumps, photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles, thereby integrating them into the smart home.

SPIDER - Secure Powerline data communication in intelligent energy networks

Smart energy networks need secure communication. Due to the processing and integration of personal consumption data in measuring systems, the legal regulations regarding data protection and data security are particularly strict. They are stipulated by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) as part of what are known as protection profiles and technical guidelines. As part of the joint project "Secure Powerline data communication in intelligent energy networks" (SPIDER), leading companies, research institutes, colleges and universities are researching and developing concepts for secure powerline-based data transmission in future intelligent energy networks. Innovative approaches, such as Trusted Network Connect, continuous integrity measurement, and secure boot processes are characteristics of already developed prototypes. Working closely with renowned providers of relevant administration software, project partners ensure the integration into an overlaid back-end infrastructure. The project concluded with real-world field tests and the analysis of these tests.

 

To project website

ACEMIND / AutoConfig 2.5 - Flexible use of various data transmission paths

As part of the Eureka/Celtic+ initiative, the EU-supported research project called ACEMIND (Advanced Convergent and Easily Manageable Innovative Networks Design) is aimed at simplifying the installation and use of smart home components—regardless of the underlying communication technology. In quite specific terms, ACEMIND is also seeking to provide corresponding terminal devices already equipped with the improved self-management capability of the network. Furthermore, these products are intended to enable convenient remote management for network operators as well. The German participants, devolo and IHP, have also organised themselves within the "AUTOCONFIG2.5" project in the funding program of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) called "The Central Innovation Program SME" (Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand - ZIM), forming the basis for even closer collaboration with each other and in the ACEMIND project in the process.

Project ELABOX - Innovative electric vehicle charging station communication

Together with the University of Duisburg-Essen, devolo developed an E-Mobility charging box that—along with the pure charging process—also allows for bidirectional data communication between the electric vehicle and the charging station. Powerline Green PHY technology is used to do this. This technology enables IP-based broadband data exchange, such as is needed, for instance, for transmitting entertainment data or updating navigation devices.

FINESCE - Future INternet Smart Utility ServiCEs

FINESCE (Future INternet Smart Utility ServiCEs) is a project from the EU's Seventh Framework Programme. Future Internet - Public Private Partnership (FI-PPP) is carrying out pilot projects in the area of smart energy at a variety of locations throughout Europe. The goal of these pilot projects is to fulfil the growing requirements imposed by decentralisation and susceptibility to mains supply fluctuations through wind and solar power. Powerline communication plays an essential role in this and represents the key technology for the smart grid.

 

To project website

UUIS - Practically oriented development and testing of comprehensive energy management solutions

The research project UUIS "Ubiquitous Environmental Information Systems" focusses on comprehensive energy management solutions based on new information and communication technologies. New technical solutions are developed in close cooperation with end users in what is called the "Living Lab", i.e. very close to the real-world application. The objective of the project is to merge the requirements on operational information systems for managing, measuring and processing environmental data with new smart energy technologies and real-time systems. Based on Powerline communication, the near real-time measurement of environmental and energy data and visual processing make a critical contribution to optimising the control and management of energy consumption.

StromKOM - Power meter with integrated G3-PLC modem

The European power grid is becoming "smart", and the StromKOM funding project is helping to make it happen. The project objective was to develop a smart power meter with integrated G3 Powerline technology.


From September 2013 to the end of November 2015, the project partners devolo, the University of Duisburg-Essen, Maxim integrated and Terranova developed a prototype of the smart power meter. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy funded the project through the "The Central Innovation Programme for SMEs" funding program (ZIM in German).


The development of the 3-phase power meter with integrated Powerline technology puts a special focus on the data security requirements set forth by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). In addition, the project aimed to achieve high EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) and a high degree of durability against inverter failures.