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✍️ By: Team BC1.NL
Direct current distribution station
Dynniq Energy, commissioned by Alliander, has built the very first public direct current distribution station. This station is located at Lelystad Airport Business Park (LAB), a new industrial area near Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands. 
The challenge for Dynniq was to design the station in such a way that it meets the needs of the consumers. However, the consumers could not yet specify their expectations, as they have no prior experience in this area. Dynniq was able to effectively leverage the knowledge gained from the public transportation sector, where the network and energy supply are already fully standardized on direct current.
What makes this station special?
It is the first public direct current station in the Netherlands and in Europe, and perhaps in the world. There have been experiments with direct current at universities, but this is the first real public network. Together with Liander they run this pilot, to gain experience and to see whether the technology used here is the right one, in consultation with the companies that will settle there.
Why direct current instead of alternating current?
Two reasons. You can transport one and a half times more power over a direct current cable, so transport is more efficient. And on the other side, about 85 percent of all devices run on direct current. They all need a converter to transform AC into DC. With direct current that is no longer necessary.
How is the station powered?
For now still by alternating current, which is converted inside the station. That share is expected to fall: as wind and solar power grow, more direct current is added directly, and the alternating current supply decreases. The station is well suited to connecting all those renewable generators directly.
Transition to a sustainable energy grid
Direct current is used far more than most people realize. This includes devices such as laptops, TVs, phone chargers, as well as electric transportation and LED street lighting.
The main advantage of a direct current grid is that there are fewer conversion losses, resulting in energy savings. Once the direct current grid is fully deployed, adapters will no longer be needed for various commonly used devices. This is better for the environment.
Sustainable energy generates direct current
Moreover, sustainable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines produce direct current. This makes it much easier for them to be connected to a direct current grid.
Also interesting:
Why switch to direct current?
