LAPP supports the new Open Direct Current Alliance
Boost for DC technology
Stuttgart, 04 November 2022 - The use of direct current for a sustainable industry is one of the major trend topics. So far, however, DC technology in Germany has essentially only been promoted in research projects for industrial use. The big breakthrough is yet to come. An alliance of companies, research institutes and the ZVEI is now giving DC technology a new dynamic. LAPP is also a founding member.
The new alliance is called the Open Direct Current Alliance (ODCA) and was officially constituted on 3 November in Frankfurt am Main. LAPP, the global market leader for integrated solutions in the field of cable and connection technology, is one of the founding members. The ODCA is the international and practical continuation of the German direct current research projects DC-Industrie and DC-Industrie2 and, since 2016, has worked with over 40 partners from industry and research to implement the energy revolution in industrial production. It also collaborates closely with the Current/OS foundation.
Experts believe that the consistent use of direct current in industry not only makes it easier to integrate renewable energy sources, but can also reduce conversion losses between AC and DC by a double-digit percentage, depending on the application. In addition, the use of DC also leads to material savings and therefore increased resource efficiency. This means that direct current will play a key role in industrial power supply in the future. "The new alliance is intended to drive the topic of DC forward. After research and the initial product developments at LAPP, the next DC evolutionary step is being taken," says Dr Susanne Krichel, Head of Innovation and Advanced Technology at Lapp Holding AG.
The ODCA focuses on six key topics:
- Building an international DC ecosystem and establishing DC technology for many applications.
- Close collaboration between users, planners, manufacturers, suppliers, research institutions, standardisation organisations and associations.
- International dissemination of knowledge and solutions on direct current grids.
- Protection of investment through the development and establishment of an innovative and sustainable direct current system.
- Platform for designing further research projects.
- Informing and convincing politics and society about the opportunities of direct current on the way to a resource-saving, CO2-neutral world.
LAPP is already a pioneer in developing cables and wires for low-voltage direct current networks for industrial applications. Based on these findings, LAPP was the first in the world to present its DC portfolio. This includes the ÖLFLEX® DC 100 with new core colour coding according to the DIN EN 60445 (VDE 0197) standard for direct current cables, which was updated in 2018. Other cables include the ÖLFLEX® DC SERVO 700 for stationary applications and the ÖLFLEX® DC CHAIN 800 made of TPE for moving applications, or the first DC robotic cable ÖLFLEX® DC ROBOT 900 with core insulation made of TPE and a sheath made of PUR, as well as the halogen-free, highly flame-resistant single-core cable ÖLFLEX® DC ESS SC for direct current applications up to 1.5 kV for use in energy storage systems (ESS).
At the SPS trade fair in Nuremberg, for example, LAPP is presenting the ÖLFLEX® DC GRID 100 - a direct current cable for connecting buildings and industrial systems. ÖLFLEX® DC GRID 100 is suitable for the installation of energy-saving DC grids in the low-voltage range and can be used not only for feeding buildings, but also, for example, to feed control systems. The flexible direct current cable for direct burial with colour code according to EN 60445 has good installation properties thanks to its fine-wire, flexible conductor design. It can be used in dry, damp and wet environments and withstands high mechanical loads. It can be laid directly underground or can be routed openly in cable trays.
Dr Susanne Krichel: "DC technology is an important building block for achieving the energy transition."