Weidmüller wins the German Innovation Award with intelligent interface solution

L to R: Dr. Joachim Franz Kastner, Program Manager, and Stefan Oermann, Vice President Global Market Management, accept the award in Berlin. (Image source: Grand Visions)

The ERC from PPC and Weidmüller wins in two categories; "Building & Elements" and "Transformative Solutions". (Image source: Weidmüller)

The ERCÂ translates digital impulses into analog circuits and thus enables existing systems to be digitized without expensive modifications. (Image source: Weidmüller)

The EEBUS Relay Converter receives the Winner Award from the German Innovation Awards. The product is a joint development of Power Plus Communications AG and Weidmüller. It plays a central role in the energy transition and future-proof grid operation.

Weidmüller receives the German Innovation Award in Berlin for the EEBUS Relay Converter (ERC). The product wins in the categories “Building & Elements” and “Transformative Solutions.” The award recognizes developments that are both socially relevant and economically effective.

The ERC addresses a key challenge of the energy transition: many existing systems – heat pumps, PV systems, or charging stations – still operate analogously, while the overarching power grid is increasingly controlled digitally. This is where the ERC comes in: it translates digital EEBUS control signals into analog relay switching commands. This allows existing systems to be integrated into a smart power grid without needing to be completely replaced.

This technology is an important building block for the expansion of smart grids. Grid operators need to be able to control systems flexibly, for example, to avoid overloads or to optimize the use of renewable energy. The converter enables targeted control of both power generators and consumers. Different feed-in power levels can be set for the power generators.

An additional advantage: the ERC makes it easier to comply with legal requirements. These include regulations such as § 14a of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) and § 9 of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which require controllable integration of systems into the power grid. Especially because many existing systems do not yet have a digital control interface, this solution fills an important gap in the current energy system.

The EEBUS Relay Converter can be operated via a Smart Meter Gateway with control functions from PPC. It offers secure remote update capabilities. This ensures the system remains adaptable in the long term.

“The German Innovation Award confirms our commitment to actively shaping the energy transition. With the EEBUS Relay Converter, we create a bridge between existing systems and the digital energy world, enabling more efficient and future-proof grid operation,” explains Stefan Oermann, Vice President of Global Market Management at Weidmüller. With this award, Weidmüller emphasizes its role as a driver of digital transformation in the energy and industrial sectors.