On February 15, 2024, Huawei Ukraine, with the support of Atmosphere-Distribution, opened a Digital Power Lab at the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (KPI).
The digital laboratory for the use and conversion of solar energy will operate on the basis of modern Huawei equipment. The laboratory will open up many new opportunities for educational, scientific, and social processes, as well as promote the development of renewable energy for various sectors of the Ukrainian economy.
Investments in the development of science and education are extremely important because they pay off quickly and allow for the implementation of progressive ideas. Students of the Department of Renewable Energy Sources at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Automation, which hosts the Digital Power Lab, will be able to engage in science and applied work, analyze and optimize photovoltaic systems to improve their implementation efficiency.
“Thanks to the support of our strategic partner Huawei Ukraine, we are opening a Digital Power Lab at the Faculty of Electric Power Engineering and Automation. This laboratory will serve as a bridge between the faculty and the high-tech energy industry, as it uses modern technologies that will be presented here from now on. With their help, the best student innovators will be able to work on new developments and acquire all the competencies required by leading companies, which will make them successful and in-demand specialists in the energy sector. I am grateful to the partners who helped to implement this project, as well as to the faculty of the faculty, who are innovators and move very quickly in the implementation of new technologies,” comments Mykhailo Zgurovsky, Rector of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
The creation of the smart laboratory will allow to train students at different levels - from bachelor's and master's theses to doctoral studies, which will receive data based on system monitoring. The Digital Power Lab will be based on the Huawei SUN2000-450W-P high-performance solar energy optimizer, Huawei SUN2000-5KTL-L1 inverter, Huawei LUNA2000 battery, and LUNA2000-5KW-C0 power supply. With the help of innovative equipment, students will be able to learn new skills in the field of sustainable development and explore solutions to preserve the environment. For example, thanks to the Huawei SUN2000-450W-P optimizer, they can improve the efficiency and reliability of solar photovoltaic systems. Its power is 450 W, and the module-level monitoring function allows you to analyze and optimize panel generation to improve system safety and performance.
Students will also be able to use an advanced solution - a 5 kW single-phase inverter Huawei SUN2000-5KTL-L1, which converts the direct current generated by solar panels into alternating current. The AFCI function improves safety by preventing arcing, which is crucial for research. The solar PV system is complemented by a Huawei LUNA2000 10 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery. This solution allows storing excess solar energy generated during the day. This energy can then be used as backup power in case of low generation or lack of sunlight.
The first smart laboratory Digital Power Lab in KPI has not only equipment for energy production and storage, but also a monitoring system for tracking energy conversion processes in real time and conducting scientific research. The set of equipment allows to generate electricity, promotes energy independence, implements the concept of “Green University” and provides additional energy supply for the continuous educational process.
“We sincerely believe that this laboratory will be useful for students, teachers, researchers and the entire industry. All stakeholders will be able to use modern equipment for advanced research, practical experiments and demonstration of renewable energy sources. We appreciate the cooperation with our partners, Atmosphere-Distribution and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, and believe that the launch of this laboratory will be one of many steps in the development of the digital energy ecosystem in Ukraine. We hope that students, researchers, and experienced practitioners from different parts of Ukraine will work together,” says Tony Cao, Acting Director of Huawei Ukraine.
The opening of the Digital Power Lab is a new stage in the university's work to train highly qualified specialists who are in great demand in the renewable energy market. Thanks to the knowledge and research based on modern equipment, students will be able not only to acquire a high-quality theoretical and practical basis for their future careers, but also to create new opportunities for the development of the industry and the efficient use of energy sources.