SHIFT to Direct Current

Project Information

SHIFT2DC

Grant agreement ID: 101136131

DOI

10.3030/101136131

EC signature date 31 October 2023

Start date 1 December 2023

End date 31 May 2027

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 11 322 202,50

EU contribution

€ 8 999 345,25

Coordinated by

INESC ID INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIADE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES INVESTIGACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO EM LISBOA
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SHIFT2DC (SHIFT to Direct Current)

Reporting period: 2023-12-01 to 2025-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Modern electric systems increasingly use Direct Current for both production and consumption. Solar panels and fuel cells generate DC, while wind farms produce AC that must be converted. Many devices, like servers, laptops, BESS, supercapacitors, and EVs, run on DC, and sectors such as maritime and aviation also use it.

Advances in power electronics have made DC more efficient and cost-effective, with lower material use and better controllability. However, its wider adoption faces technical, regulatory, and standardisation challenges, including limited control algorithms, protection schemes, and simulation tools.

Shift2DC promotes smarter, more efficient, and sustainable energy systems through DC technologies. Coordinated by INESC-ID (Portugal) and involving 33 partners from 12 countries, the project will develop guidelines and a roadmap for large-scale DC adoption.
Demonstrators in Data Centres, Buildings, Industry, and Ports in Germany, France, and Portugal will test tailored DC tools. Feasibility, cost-benefit, life cycle, and environmental impacts will be assessed. Shift2DC also advances standardisation and harmonisation to ensure scalable, replicable solutions that support Europe’s clean energy transition.

The project, running from December 2023 to November 2027, is tackling these challenges head-on. By Month 18, the project has completed 8 of 30 tasks and submitted 13 of 30 deliverables. Key results to date include:
- D1.1: A first vision of existing DC applications, challenges, opportunities, and potential evolution.
- D1.2: An assessment of policies and regulatory frameworks, identifying barriers and offering early recommendations.
- D1.3: A use case repository for the demonstrators.
- D1.4: Specifications for tools and devices to be developed in WP2 and WP3 and tested in WP4.
- D1.5: IT requirements for the demonstrator phase.
- D1.6: Analysis of user perspectives on DC adoption.
- D2.1: A design tool for MVDC and LVDC systems.
- D4.1: Design specifications and results for the four demonstrators.
- D5.1: A preliminary innovation and exploitation methodology.
- D6.1: A communication and dissemination plan defining project strategies.
- D7.1 & D7.2: Project management strategy and its update based on lessons from the first 18 months.
- D7.4: A Data Management Plan with clear guidelines for the consortium.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP1 was active from Month 1 and completed all six tasks within the reporting period, achieving Milestone MS1 and submitting all deliverables. T1.1 reviewed MVDC and LVDC applications, identifying key barriers and benefits over AC, resulting in Deliverable D1.1. T1.2 assessed regulatory gaps in protection and cabling standards, contributing to Deliverable D1.2. T1.3 created a use case repository (IEC 62559-2-based) aligned with demonstrators, published on GitHub (D1.3). T1.4 defined specifications for 18 tools and devices, forming the foundation for WP2 and WP3 (D1.4). T1.5 outlined IT and cybersecurity needs for secure demonstrator operation (D1.5). T1.6 gathered user insights on DC adoption barriers, informing outreach strategies (D1.6).

WP2 began at Month 5 with five active tasks. It develops tools for DC design, simulation, and management. T2.1 developed the SOL23 DC Network Design Tool for LVDC systems, implemented in Python and advanced from TRL 3 to TRL 6 (D2.1). Milestone MS2 was postponed due to Task 2.2 being restructured into several deliverables, with some work still ongoing.

WP3 started at Month 5, with all five tasks progressing. It focuses on developing technologies for DC grid performance, including smart cables, DER control devices, advanced grid interfaces, and innovative protection architectures.

WP4 started at Month 13 and all tasks are ongoing. D4.1 was submitted. The work involves designing and simulating the four demonstrators (data centres, buildings, industry, ports), testing WP2 tools, preparing WP3 prototypes, and developing digital twins to assess real-world DC deployment. The aim is to validate technical feasibility and identify adoption barriers and opportunities.

WP5 began at Month 5, focusing on exploitation, standardisation, and market analysis. D5.1 was submitted. T5.1 mapped exploitable results and began tracking innovation KPIs, with a new market-focused iteration at Month 16. T5.2 mapped standardisation groups and defined Shift2DC’s contribution to them.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

During Period 1, Shift2DC delivered results that go beyond the state of the art by:
- Addressing the most critical gaps in the development and integration of DC technologies, particularly at the low voltage level.
- A major step forward was the creation of the SOL23 DC Network Design Tool (T2.1) an open-source solution tailored for LVDC applications.
- Recognising the lack of foundational knowledge in DC protection, T2.2 shifted from tool development to producing key technical documents on grounding, short-circuit behaviour, protection planning, and selectivity.
- In parallel, T2.3 advanced simulation and control tools for DC microgrids and MVDC networks, including hybrid EMS platforms currently in early testing.
- WP3 contributed with innovations such as sustainable energy-data cables (T3.1) prototyped DC integration hardware (T3.2) and early-stage DC interfaces (T3.3) one of which has already entered real-world testing. T3.4 introduced novel protection architectures tailored for DC systems, while T3.5 progressed the setup of two living labs for hands-on validation.
- At the standardisation level, T5.2 launched efforts to map relevant working groups and formally engaged with IEC’s LVDC Compatibility group, ensuring that project outcomes begin influencing future DC standards.