n
A system can only really be considered smart
if it offers bidirectional exchange of information
and data between the energy generator at one
end of the energy-transmission chain and the
end-user at the other. This intelligence is en-
abled by a variety of electronic components:
microcontrollers specifically designed for elec-
tricity meters, powerline modems, high-per-
formance processors with communication in-
terfaces, efficient power supplies, precise analog
circuits or high-voltage semiconductors for
the transmission and transformation of the
electric current. As a result, the challenges
facing the Renewable Energies team are ex-
tremely varied and complex, as Karl Lehnhoff,
Director, Vertical Segment Renewable Energies
at EBV Elektronik, explains.
According to Lehnhoff, the target groups of
the EBV Renewable Energies team include
any business engaged in generating energy –
from photovoltaic through wind energy to
biogas. In addition there is the entire field of
energy transport, including high-voltage net-
works, substations and control technology, as
well as net automation, measuring the status
of the network, conversion of high voltage
into low voltage and adjustable local network
transformers. On top of this, the experts also
deal with energy storage in relation to renew-
able energy, including charging stations for
electric vehicles. And last but not least, an im-
portant aspect of automation throughout the
entire smart grid is communication and above
all data security. It’s not just an issue for smart
meters, but for all billing-related meters and
data concentrators.
Renewable energy has been a core area for
EBV for many years now, and is integrated
into its vertical business structure under the
name Renewable Energies. Market-related seg-
ments include Automotive, Consumer, Renew-
able Energies, Healthcare and HighRel. Tech-
nology-oriented segments include EBV FPGA,
RF andWireless, LightSpeed and Identification.
Anyone working with renewable energy needs
not only dedicated experts but also a wide net-
work linking to all neighbouring disciplines, in
order to provide their customers with complete
and appropriate support. Support from EBV
can, if wished, start right from the beginning of
a project: the experts from the Renewable En-
ergies segment advise customers on their choice
of suitable technology and the right electronic
components, as well as assisting in technical
matters that arise during development or even
during production of new appliances.
There are five dedicated specialists explicitly
assigned to deal with renewable energy. They
are supported throughout Europe by more
than a hundred application engineers and ex-
perts from other verticals. Naturally EBV didn’t
want to establish parallel sales organisations
with the verticals, but just to link up expertise
and resources. Who provides the support is
decided on a case-by-case basis. The industrial
sectors are too intensively networked to be
sharply segregated. So the experts work together
closely, including on shared customer visits.
After all, how EBV is organised doesn’t make a
difference to the customer. What matters to
them is that they receive the right support for
their application. In the end a customer can’t
generally be pigeon-holed. It is routine for
EBV to think outside the box.
There are many examples of the inter-discipli-
nary co-operation of the EBV teams: for in-
stance, when designing a smart meter the ques-
tion arose about communication within the
smart home. So, the expertise of the RF &
Wireless experts was also needed. The ad-
justable local network transformer integrates
measuring technology that enables status mon-
itoring. In the end it is just the same as condi-
tion monitoring from industrial automation
and therefore projects like this have interfaces
with both the Identification vertical segment
and with colleagues from the RF & Wireless
segment when communication or WiFi con-
nection of the adjustable local network trans-
former is concerned. In the case of charging
stations for electric vehicles there was of course
Smart teamwork enables networked
support for renewable energies
S
MART
E
NERGY
By Karl Lehnhoff,
EBV
Renewable energies – one
term, countless options: from
smart grid communication
and charging infrastructures
for e-cars through to energy
storage. Anyone developing
renewable energy applications
needs a partner who can pro-
vide not only large volumes of
electronic components, but
also advice and support
through the design phase.
That is the mission of the EBV
Renewable Energies team.
April 2014
6
