PHOENIX CONTACT | UPDATE - The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

E N E R G Y – FA C T S A N D F I G U R E S World population (in billions) As of May 2020 7.8 forecast for 2050 9.7 (Source: UN) 9 of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have been in the 21st Century Energy mix Generation of energy in Germany As of Sep 2020 Other (1%) Gas (12.1%) Black coal (6.1%) Hydropower (4.1%) Biomass (9.5%) 346.55 TWh Wind (26.6%) Energy for all The area required to meet the world’s energy needs in 2030 with solar power alone < 1% of the total land area Primary energy consumption in 2019 (in exajoules) 150 125 100 75 50 25 9.68 11.04 12.34 12.37 12.4 13.14 18.67 14.21 29.81 34.06 141.7 94.65 Brown coal (15.1%) Nuclear energy (12.6%) Source: Fraunhofer ISE Solar (13.0%) e c n a r F i a b a r A i d u a S n a r I a e r o K h t u o S l i z a r B y n a m r e G a d a n a C n a p a J a i s s u R i a d n I A S U i a n h C Source: Statista Renewable energies are gaining ground (2019 in Germany) Highest level of photovoltaic feed-in on June 29, 2019: 33.4 GW Wind and solar power generated in 2019 92.2 TWh This was 52.4 % of the total electricity This is an increase of 12.1 TWh production on that day compared to 2018 Source: Fraunhofer ISE Total length of the power grid (DE) 1.78 million kilometers – this equates to 4.6 times the distance from the earth to the moon 2 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine 1. China (236,402) 2. USA (105,466) 3. Germany (61,405) 4. India (37,506) 5. Spain (25,808) Top 5 countries: Installed wind power (in megawatts) As of 2019-12-31 (Source: GWEC)

Frank Stührenberg, CEO Phoenix Contact E D I T O R I A L Crises make us stronger Dear readers, The new decade has begun with disruptions and changes in such a unique way that we could never have imagined before. Crises cost and place burdens on victims, but they can also be opportunities. From this perspective, we can consider the corona-driven boost for digitalization as a dynamic in the right direction: Forward, into the future. Taking on challenges actively is a part of the entrepreneurial spirit. We are convinced that innovative technologies create the greatest scope for solving the challenges that lie ahead: Beyond the pandemic, we want to find solutions for climate change and the growth of the world population. Comprehensive electrification, complete networking, and intelligent automation are the key to the future for us. In an interview, CTO Roland Bent conveys a spirit of optimism and goes on to explain our mission statement for the All Electric Society. Read about how this is not utopian, but technologically attainable, starting on page 8. From the generation of electrical energy and its transmission through to its targeted, smart, and sometimes even very rapid use; this issue will guide you through a number articles worth reading. And Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs and president- elect of the ZVEI Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry Association, states that climate protection does not mean cutting back on consumption. He clearly defines the responsibilities of businesses and politicians and adds color to the image of the future. You can read exactly how in an interview starting on page 60. Join us as we look ahead to our strategy that casts electrification in a leading role. This appears to bring the founding of Phoenix Contact – founded in exactly the same decade in the 20th Century – full circle: Electrification and networking are in our DNA and will always remain so. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 3

Das Innovationsmagazin von Phoenix Contact Von einer Vision zur Wirklichkeit All Electric Society Aufbruch in ein neues Jahrzehnt Energie E I G R E N E 0 2 / 6 E T A D P U Energieerzeugung Nezzy² – das schwimmende Windrad Power-to-X Mit Druck in den Untergrund Smarte Netze INGO weiß, was die Nachbarn machen Lightning fl ashes are not just a symbol of untamed natural forces. In a fi gurative sense, they can also be seen as fl ashes of inspiration that drive the energy of new ideas. Three metric tonnes of fl oating innovation – Nezzy2 emerges 16 Generation Networking Consumption As soon as you start looking at the opportunities and challenges, the mission statement for an All Electric Society becomes electrifying. CTO Roland Bent explains what lies behind the vision | 08 WIND POWER The fl oating double header Sönke Siegfriedsen has already stirred up the world of wind power several times. Now he’s headed for the water | 16 SOLAR POWER Teaching the sun manners How do you manage to remove the horror caused by the disrupting fl uctuations created by a solar power plant away from power grids? | 22 4 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

D R I V I N G F O R C E S Cables give way and intelligence moves in – new technology in an old power station 26 Smart light for smart cities – WE-EF chooses Phoenix Contact 46 Working with extra-high voltage – Remptendorf transformer station 32 Dr. Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs, focuses on technology 60 ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS High pressure for the lull How a unique power station shapes up for the energy revolution | 26 POWER GRIDS Tantalizingly high voltage Four performance levels – one transformer station. High-tech meets old treasures in Remptendorf | 32 SMART BUILDING The company building that learns 30 kilometers of network cable and high level of intelligence grace this smart new building | 42 SMART LIGHTING Bright, beautiful, and smart Light from the Lüneburg Heath fi nds its way to city centers | 46 POWER GRIDS Transparency on the lower level When consumers become producers, power grids have to be monitored more closely | 38 SMART FACTORING The hunt for heat in detail Thermal simulation accelerates device housing construction | 50 E-MOBILITY TO THE EXTREME Speedy battery cells When electric vehicles are let off their leash | 54 INTERVIEW You can’t always say no Interview with Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs | 60 Editorial | 03 From the industry | 06 Behind the scenes | 64 Legal information | 67 Preview | 67 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 5

From espresso to extortionist Security gaps in modern WLAN devices It sounds like a joke at fi rst, but it’s anything but: Security researcher Martin Hron from Avast started out working on his own WLAN- enabled espresso machine. He “took” control not manually, but digitally, and hacked into the smart, fully automatic machine in such a way that the machine just beeped and hot water fl owed out. A ransom demand appeared on the display, making it clear that coffee here would be a little more expensive than expected. Hron used an app, an API, and the home appliance fi rmware to create a way to get into the machine via his PC. The attack was so well programmed that the espresso machine constantly heated and released boiled water. The device also turned into a continuous beeper. Only unplugging the machine prevented damage to the appliance and his nerves. If fully automatic coffee machines, refrigerators, and other smart appliances are hooked into a company network, then there is a potential security fl aw here – through the back door. arstechnica.com F R O M T H E I N D U S T RY A very private place The ISS gets a new bathroom At € 23 million, the new waste extraction system system is almost certainly the most expensive toilet of all time. However, in an age when space travel is being commercialized and long- distance fl ights are already being tested, such topics are also gaining in importance. At the end of September, the “Cygnus” spacecraft was scheduled to deliver a new toilet to the International Space Station. The “Universal Waste Management System” (UWMS) is designed to recycle urine immediately. The word “universal” is a nod toward the plan to be able to integrate the The Hannover Messe goes hybrid The world’s leading trade fair goes analog, digital, and hybrid from April 12 to April 16, 2021 The economy needs trade fairs! Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of Deutsche Messe AG, underscores the importance of international industry meetings and trade fairs with this statement. For the year 2021, the organizer of the world’s largest industrial trade fair wants to offer a physical trade fair coupled with a digital shift to the Internet for exhibitors and visitors who do not wish to or cannot be present due to the uncertain pandemic situation. 71-centimeter-high apparatus into other space systems. In addition to a urinal, this private place also has a more comfortable seat for impending business, according to NASA project manager Melissa McKinley. And it is signifi cantly smaller and lighter than previous fi xtures. Energy effi ciency until the end… space.com Working from home – now mainstream New types of work due to COVID-19 Initially met with skepticism – now a reality. In times of COVID-19, working from home has become mainstream in record time thanks to networking, video conferencing, and digital teamwork. However, there are also downsides to this new way of working: Lack of con- tact and the nebulous separation of work and home life are frequent responses in a survey conducted by the Stuttgart Fraunhofer Insti- tute for Industrial Engineering IOA in July 2020. But the new reality isn’t going anywhere – almost 90 percent of all companies sur- veyed report positive results. And 56 percent of all employees said they were more productive working from home. 6 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine messe.de iao.fraunhofer.de/lang-en/

F R O M T H E I N D U S T RY The power of two hearts Plug-in hybrids have huge potential when used correctly Hybrids are vehicles that run both a combustion engine and an electric motor, equipped with a tank and a battery. You can either use conventional fuels or travel fully electrically for a short range. In sporty versions, both systems combined can provide propulsion. In Germany, sales are booming because these passenger cars are classified for tax purposes in a similar way as fully electric vehicles, the poster boys of automotive progress. But surely aren’t vehicles that have to drag both a combustion engine and an e-drive around flawed from the outset? The consensus of the National Platform Future of Mobility (NPM) experts is “Absolutely not.” In a new study, they demonstrate that these best-of-both-worlds vehicles have the power of empowering electromobility. It all depends on the right balance between the gas pump and the charging connector. It makes no sense if the hybrid cannot draw upon the strengths of its electrical drive and is only powered by fossil fuels. On the other hand, when they are driven electrically through cities and on short journeys, plug-in hybrids – with forecasts showing there will be 3 million on the road by 2030 – can save the equivalent of 2.9 million metric tons of carbon emissions per year. And all that without the uncertainties of range and charging infrastructure. Along with the advantages already existing today, the study also illustrates possibilities for further improvements to hybrid technology. Plattform-zukunft-mobilitaet.de Z4 manual unearthed Who reads user manuals? Windy monster Nezzy2 goes for a swim In the case of the oldest working computer in the world, the Zuse Z4, it’s worth taking a look. It explains the long-unknown functionality of the computer, which consists of 2,200 relays and an electromechanical memory that can hold a proud 64 numbers. At the ETH Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, a manual has now been discovered in a former employee’s archives. Today, the pioneering machine is at the Deutsches Museum in Munich. research-collection.ethz.ch Sometimes reality catches up with the scheduled event. Just a moment ago, we were sitting on the shore of a quarry lake in Bremerhaven, Lower Saxony, interviewing wind energy pioneer Sönke Siegfriedsen (see page 16), yet his unique power plant presented here is already swimming in the Baltic Sea. Nezzy2 is a floater, a floating wind turbine. Its characteristic feature, apart from the lack of a solid foundation, is the fact that it has two heads. The 18-meter tall wind turbine on a scale of 1:10 has now moved from the quarry lake to the Bay of Greifswald off the German Baltic coast. Here, it is exposed to the harsh reality of wind and waves. However, electricity is not yet being generated in this test phase, the builders for the German energy provider EnBW energy reveal. New possibilities without a firm foundation Konrad Zuse (1910–1995) and the replica of the Z3 in the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany enbw.com The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 7

A L L E L E C T R I C S O C I E T Y Dawn of a new age Dawn of a new age Phoenix Contact describes its strategic orientation for the next decade with its All Electric Society mission statement. Roland Bent, CTO and member of the Executive Board of Phoenix Contact, explains how so much more than just a slogan resonates in these three words. All Electric Society …a vision of a livable world. The solution is a sustainable energy revolution made possible through the conversion of our energy systems to electrical energy from renewable sources. …In this world, there is enough energy available to support global growth and worldwide prosperity. 8 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

“How we deal with climate change will define us.” è UPDATE: Mr. Bent, an all electric society – what is behind this vision and what was the reason for making this the mission statement for the next ten years of Phoenix Contact? Bent: The All Electric Society describes a future in which electrical energy generated from renewable sources is available worldwide as the primary type of energy in sufficient quantities and in an entirely economical way. There were several reasons why we made this vision our guiding principle. On the one hand, of course, we are literally starting a new decade. And not just on the calendar, but also with a new management team, a new Executive Board. And in the first half of this decade, in 2023, Phoenix Contact will turn 100 years old. But these are merely the framework conditions, which are just right. The actual technological and social changes that we are all facing together have been much more important to us. What will our company be like in the coming decades? What do we stand for? Which external impulses will we take on and how will they influence our actions? è UPDATE: You are anticipating my questions! What drives the All Electric Society mission statement? Bent: Carbon dioxide, the use of fossil fuels, climate change – the relevance of this global challenge can no longer be ignored. How we deal with it will define both the whole of humanity, but also us as a company. The trend has been clear for a long time, but now concrete measures to combat climate change must be incorporated into our business activities. Climate change will define our era. This is a global commitment, manifested in the Paris Climate Change Convention. And this has long been expressed in economic terms, most recently since Larry Fink, the boss of BlackRock, one of the largest financial investors, has made a commitment to invest only in sustainable technologies with his enormous endowment fund. This attitude leads to dramatic changes. è UPDATE: What exactly is the All Electric Society? Bent: The issue of the growing world population is coupled with the question of how clean energy can be made available in sufficient quantities. By 2050, we expect global energy demand to increase by 50 percent. And yet today, 850 million people still have no access to any type of electricity at all. The hunger for energy will increase dramatically. And the solution to this dilemma cannot lie in surrender – in other words, in saving energy – alone. It can and must only be achieved technologically; only with new innovations. This is where we come into play as a technology leader; because technology is not the problem, but à The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 9

A L L E L E C T R I C S O C I E T Y technology and electronics – in short, connectivity. Of course these will remain our foundation, there is no question about that. But in combination with our ever-increasing expertise in digitalization, we are creating a powerful tool for solving tasks. An example from our current production methods: We digitalize control cabinets at the very beginning of their development and work with a digital twin. This allows us to drastically simplify the processes for our customers, from planning right through to assembly. This approach takes our knowledge and products from the analog world – in other words, the very classic terminal technology – and combines it with digital technology, creating completely new possibilities. è UPDATE: How sensitive is the commitment to the All Electric Society when it comes to political neutrality, to which Phoenix Contact actually feels committed? Isn’t it unusual for our company to take such a sociopolitical stance when populists vehemently deny climate change? Bent: First of all, we follow scientific facts and not political opinions. We are not going to start proselytizing. We align ourselves with the facts, and these were adopted most recently with the Paris Agreement on Climate Protection agreed between 185 countries. To put it briefly: Protecting the climate is the new normal. Climate change and the need to combat it is a fact that is reflected in political and economic measures worldwide. We have to decarbonize our economy. And we share this point of view and adopt it, that’s right. The pursuit of energy will continue to be a central task for the global population in the future. Yet clean energy – that is to say, energy from renewable sources – is still a rare commodity. But this is changing in leaps and bounds. And this demand will be unstoppable, and will become one of the biggest economic drivers, that’s a fact. technologies will be è UPDATE: Which decisive in this process? Bent: The starting point is the energy of the sun, which in the form of radiation, wind, and water will be the driving force behind the All Electric Society, because it can be used to generate and make useable almost unlimited amounts of “Technology is not the problem – it is part of the solution.” will be a part of the solution. Digitalization is one of the keys to solving these problems. We are firmly convinced of this. è UPDATE: Digitalization alone? Phoenix Contact sees itself as the “Digital Industrial Company”. But aren’t our “analog” technologies also indispensable for the All Electric Society? Bent: The All Electric Society is based on comprehensive electrification, networking, and automation. All of the core areas of expertise in our company are based on our DNA of connection 10 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

electrical energy. However, in order to have the fluctuating energy production of natural resources continuously available, we need the option to store the generated energy and transport it over longer distances. Power-to-X plays a central role here – that is to say, the conversion of electrical energy into gaseous or liquid energy sources such as hydrogen. This will be a central factor on the way to the All Electric Society. The aim will be to make renewable energy significantly more cost-effective than it is already. Having said that, it can already be seen today that the cost of generating one kilowatt hour from solar power – at around four to five cents – is in the same order of magnitude as is the case of generation based on coal. On top of this, however, one tonne of CO2 causes damage of around € 180. This corresponds roughly to an additional 15 cents per kilowatt hour for coal-fired electricity. So far, these costs are not yet included in the producer prices, because they are borne by society. Nevertheless, we have to make renewable energies even more economical and use them more effectively. Economies of scale are needed to bring down costs. This can only be achieved through a holistic approach, from generation right through to the consumption of energy – which we call sector coupling. è UPDATE: What is behind this term? Bent: If we want to achieve economical renewable energy, we need improved energy efficiency across the entire value chain, for example from à H2 Hydrogen CH4O Methanol Power to X How can renewable energies be stored in such a way that their fluctuations are balanced out? One possibility is to use them to produce energy-rich substances such as hydrogen or hydrocarbons. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 11

A L L E L E C T R I C S O C I E T Y Power and grids Sector coupling Sector coupling (also known integrated energy) refers to the networking of energy and industrial sectors that are to be coupled – in other words, optimized – in a joint holistic approach. Traditionally, the electricity, heating (or cooling), transport, and industry sectors have been considered largely independently of each other. (Source: Wikipedia) Mobility Industry automation production, transmission, and supply all the way to consumption, and this in all areas of life and the economy that produce and consume energy. Until now, these areas, the sectors, have been considered separately. But when we comprehensively electrify the sectors, network them with each other, and automate them holistically, then we are talking about sector coupling. As already mentioned, these are the core areas of expertise at Phoenix Contact, and this is where we are technologically at home. We therefore outline our active task as “Empowering the All Electric Society” – that is to say, making this vision of the future possible. We do not build solar systems, we do not have any power grids, energy storage systems, or Power-to-X systems. We would like to empower our customers to be able to network sectors both electrically and with data technology using our products and solutions in order to create a smart, intelligent control system for the entire chain. è UPDATE: How do we integrate our customers from the process and chemical industries and the raw material extraction of classic industries into the vision of the All Electric Society? Bent: We also have to make these industries “smarter”, and we have been doing this for a long time. Classic petrochemicals will continue to be indispensable for a long time to come, also in drive technology. Oil, coal, gas – we still cannot live without them. But we are already making a signifi cant contribution toward ensuring that these valuable raw materials can be used more effi ciently. This is as important for industry as it is for the environment. And our partners from these industries are themselves active and involved in new fi elds; just think of the development of hydrogen technology or battery storage technology. We are therefore breaking new ground together with our customers. But actually, in the future, we will increasingly be identifying areas in which we will 12 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Building automation “For us, digitalization is a means to an end, a tool. It is not an end in and of itself.” Infrastructure want to strengthen our role and our efforts. And there will also be areas where we see no future, and we will therefore reduce our commitment to them. è UPDATE: When we reach a future where energy is available in suffi cient quantities and its production is completely economical – won’t the issue of energy effi ciency become irrelevant again? Bent: (Grinning) It will be a long time before that happens. And energy effi ciency is precisely the fi eld where we can make a signifi cant contribution to the conservation of resources now, and also to the implementation of the All Electric Society. And this will remain the case and will continue to set technological standards in the future. But yes, when the All Electric Society has become a reality, the consumption of energy will no longer have such a stigma. Then mobility will be possible without a guilty conscience – which is an attractive idea, don’t you think? è UPDATE: What time frame do you expect for achieving the All Electric Society? Bent: The Delphi study on the future of energy systems in Germany, Europe, and the world predicts a signifi cant step towards realizing this vision by 2040. This study is based on the survey of 80 renowned experts and pioneers from developing, emerging, and industrialized countries and their assessment by 350 international experts. That is not so far off in the future. And that makes me, and us, hopeful, both in terms of the future prospects for Phoenix Contact and for everyone. (lo)  phoenixcontact.com/en-us/all-electric-society The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 13

A L L E L E C T R I C S O C I E T Y What is behind the abbreviation SDG? “Solutions for the global challenges of the future” By 2030, the world’s population will have grown to 8.5 billion people. With this in mind, the 193 member states of the United Nations jointly formulated important sustainability goals five years ago. These “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) are to be achieved in order to enable a life of dignity and one that conserves resources and protects the planet and the climate. The path to global sustainability is not just a task for politicians, but also for society, science, and industry. The harmony of economy, ecology, and social issues forms the framework for sustainable management and corporate responsibility. At Phoenix Contact, we have always lived and breathed sustainability. In family businesses, sustainable management plays a major role. technologies, and solutions. This is empowering our customers and making them better able to boldly embrace the digitalized and electrified future. Five of the 17 SDGs are supported directly by the Phoenix Contact product and innovation portfolio: 1. Affordable and clean energy (Goal 7) 2. Decent work and economic growth (Goal 8) 3. Industry, innovation, and infrastructure (Goal 9) 4. Sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11) 5. Responsible consumption and production (Goal 12) With the topics of electrification, networking, and Responsible business dealings and economic success are automation, Phoenix Contact is focusing even more intensely not contradictory. Neither is enthusiasm for technology and on sustainable development. The vision of the “All Electric Society” is reflected in all facets of the portfolio of products, sustainability. We should all help to actively shape a future worth living. 14 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

End poverty in all its forms everywhere Eradicate hunger, achieve food security and better nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for everyone of all ages Ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation Reduce inequality within and among countries Make cities and settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts Conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources within the framework of sustainable development Protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems and promote their sustainable use, manage forests sustainably. Combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and stop the loss of biodiversity Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, ensure access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels Strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development No alternative, but expensive Achieving Agenda 2030, which has been in force since January 1, 2016, is an ambitious and cost-intensive undertaking. As early as 2014, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was assuming an annual cost of 2.5 trillion US dollars. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 15

R E N E WA B L E E N E R G Y T he man is a true pioneer in the wind power industry. A successful entrepreneur. A technician. And a visionary and a globetrotter. His second home is China – a big leap, and not just for someone headquartered in Rendsburg, Germany. With his Nezzy2, Sönke Siegfriedsen even leaves solid ground. This is because he and his team have been teaching the wind turbine how to swim. These floating energy producers are known as “floaters” within the industry. And they enjoy a high level of attention. This attention is due to the fact that floaters could become an important element of global energy production. This is due to the limits of the concrete feet on stationary systems. Specifically, the need to compensate for the forces that pull on the entire system 200 meters above them through the use of a solid foundation. The seabed cannot be deeper than about 50 meters, because beyond that the massive concrete foundations cannot be laid in the seabed. The solution lies in the chain Sönke Siegfriedsen is a North German lad straight out of a storybook. Already comfortable on a sailboat by the age of three, he learned to sail at seven, and competed at age 14 in The heart and mind of Nezzy2 – the control electronics are located in the hull of the system the Optimist dinghy world championships. Since studying physics in Lübeck, he has been addicted to energy and its production. And since visiting a pioneering wind turbine in Denmark in 1978, he has been aware that wind will not only have an affect in his sailing world. He built his first wind turbine on the roof of the University of Applied Sciences in Lübeck in 1979. Since then, 50 patent families and 27 complete wind turbine generators have grown out of these early beginnings. “Over 50,000 turbines are in operation in China based on our design, our development,” says the head of aerodyn engineering gmbh proudly. And he points casually over his shoulder with his thumb. “And this is our latest escapade.” We are sitting on the shore of a quarry lake between Cuxhaven and Bremerhaven in Germany. The sun is shining and the clouds are playing merry- go-round in the sky. A double-headed monster floats on the mirror-smooth lake, stretching a total of six rotor blades up to 18 meters in height. If its inventor has his way, the solution for the offshore wind industry is floating right here. Stable thanks to tension “The system weighs around six tons,” says Siegfriedsen, describing the dimensions of the floating wind turbine generator. Concrete weights are installed on the seabed to hold the hull of the wind turbine generator – a submersible buoy – in place using six anchor chains. This buoy is the 18 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Experimental – a peak into the control cabinet of the aquatic prototype Sönke Siegfriedsen, a pioneer of wind power “Over 50,000 turbines are in operation in China based on our development work and with our design.” Sönke Siegfriedsen, aerodyn engineering floating foundation of the wind turbine generator. It is made up of pre-stressed, precast concrete elements, which come together in a horizontal Y shape. This floating foundation aligns itself autonomously using the wind current. In contrast to systems on land, it is not the single nacelles that rotate, but rather the entire above-water system. The two towers, which are set up at an angle and connected to each other and to the foundation by anchoring cables, are built on this foundation. At the moment, three-bladed rotors are turning, but alternative two-bladed rotors are already waiting to be tested. The system is completed by large yellow floats, which are intended to ensure the stable floating position of the wind turbine on the water surface. Testing – that’s the motto. Nezzy2 is a research facility. A data collector. More than four million pieces of data are collected in 10 minutes. Every 10 minutes. Timo Kosnieczki, Key Account Manager of the wind team at Phoenix Contact, explains, “We were already involved in the predecessor project, Nezzy 1, which was tested in the Sea of Japan.” Safely through the cyclone The double-headed system is stable thanks to its innovative tensioning technology. Monitoring during operation is also very important. What happens if a rotor fails? Or if there are high waves that set the anchor chains in motion or if a hurricane sweeps over the system? Real-time data, a high degree of automation, extreme reliability – without cutting- edge technology, Nezzy becomes a monster. The PLCnext Engineer software was used right from the start in the development Nezzy2. A total of six PLCnext controllers are used in the turbine generator, from the pitch systems right through to the main control cabinet. They record the sensor data, perform calculations, and ensure that the components are controlled correctly. The control and synchronicity of the two turbines is, of course, extremely important. It’s no wonder that our colleagues from the Phoenix Contact wind team are also fascinated. “For us, it was the first time that we worked on and with a two-turbine generator. That in itself was very exciting. In order to add new functions and optimize the tasks of our automation technology, we exchanged new à The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 19

Tests are still underway to determine whether two or three rotor blades are more effective. The blades themselves are movable; the two heads are not The double-rotor turbine is stable thanks to the steel tension cables. Even in a plant ten times bigger – according to its creator Nezzy2: Six tons of pure innovation. The fl oating Y-shape is anchored by anchor chains. The central buoy carries the rotating hull. Currently at 18 meters in height, the series version will extend to a height of 180 meters in the future Six PLCnext control devices monitor the operation of the wind turbine and ensure reliable operation 20 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

R E N E WA B L E E N E R G I E S software packages with our colleagues from Recase almost daily,” says Application Engineer Lukas Christ, describing the pioneering work. Recase is the company that designed and commissioned the Nezzy2 electrical engineering system. Timo Kosnieczky is visibly taken with the two-headed monster. “This is really pioneering work. And we are partners in genuine fundamental research. We are actively developing the programming of the control system in cooperation with Recase.” And will all of this really hold together, even away from the quiet North German quarry lake and in dimensions ten times greater? “Of course,” Sönke Siegfriedsen says with certainty. “The system of fl oating work platforms is not new; the oil production industry has been using this concept for a long time. And wind turbines have also been taught how to swim. But the special thing about our system here is the concept of the two towers. This is the only way to ensure that the additional design work will pay off. Quite simply, the system can simply capture twice as much wind power.” Nezzy2 will face real wind and waves in October, which is when it is scheduled to move. Out of the lake, into the Bay of Greifswald, and out onto the Baltic Sea where it truly is windy. How will the fl oating double-headed creature perform in currents, strong winds, waves and sea swell? If all the tests are successful, the whole world will be waiting for Nezzy – the construction of a large wind farm is planned off the coast of China. There, the sensational wind turbine generator will stretch its two hubs into the wind up to a height of 180 meters instead of just 18. But China already has a lot of experience with scaly mythical creatures. So Nezzy2 will be quite welcome. (lo)  phoenixcontact.com Because a foundation in the seabed is not needed, considerably more areas can be utilized for wind power. And the environmental impact is also signiﬁ cantly reduced Can only be used in waters up to a depth of around 60 meters The successors of Nezzy2 will be 180 meters tall D 2 D 1 m 1 m 2 D 1 m 1 2 h 1 h Considerably greater depths can be achieved with anchor chains The twin towers make Nezzy2 profi table The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 21

The sun is shining when Christoph Werlitz opens the gates to the Menteroda solar park. It’s weather that’s appropriate for a visit to a plant that produces clean energy in the northern Thuringian municipality at the foot of the Harz Mountains in Germany. And in which an innovative PLCnext control system helps to bring more discipline to the fluctuations of the natural energy source. T he municipality of Menteroda is actually known for its potash mining, which started here at the beginning of the 20th Century and which shaped the region for decades. But the mines are no longer active, the huge slag heaps have been recultivated, and mining is only a memory that is commemorated with a small museum. Today, the beauties of the Wartburg-Hainich World Heritage Site attract visitors to the region – medieval towns, mighty castles and, above all, surrounded by nature. Regenerative mix However, all of this is suffering massively from climate change. The extensive coniferous forests cannot tolerate the increasing droughts of recent years, the “wooden gold” of the forestry sector is being destroyed the by bark beetle – the dynamics of this development is particularly evident in the low mountain ranges. No wonder that, here in particular, there is a great acceptance for renewable energies. ASG Engineering GmbH from Saxony-Anhalt operates the 6.05 MWp solar power plant Menteroda 2. A rooftop system and a large open space make up the overall power plant. The rooftop system was erected on a hall of the local recycling sorting company. Here, trash is sorted and the organic waste is fed into a biogas plant, which is located in the immediate vicinity. To complete the jigsaw of regenerative energies, our gaze wanders towards the horizon past various wind turbine generators aimed at utilizing the energies of the moving à The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 23

Menteroda 2 has a capacity of 6.05 MWp “It was important to us that the new controllers would allow us to connect not only solar but also wind or combined heat and power plants.” Christoph Werlitz, Engineering ASG Solar 24 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine atmosphere. But the three visitors are not here to see those today. The entire Menteroda solar park was connected to the grid in February 2020. The older part, Menteroda 1, has been in existence since the beginning of 2019. Christoph Werlitz is the contact person on site and is responsible for Menteroda 2 engineering. He is accompanied by René Wollmerstädt, the General Manager of ASG Solar. ASG Solar was established by Jan Wecke and René Wollmerstädt in 2007. Since then, the company has planned, constructed, and operated plants. Wollmerstädt is responsible for the technical side of the “Generating energy from the sun” business model. Today’s third member of the group is Burkhard Dittmann, who works on the sales service side for Phoenix Contact and who is an expert in the energy sector and in integrating renewable energies. Helping people help themselves Christoph Werlitz explains, “Menteroda was not just planned and implemented by ASG Solar, it is also operated by the company. While we still had to draw upon external services for Menteroda 1, we planned Menteroda 2 and put it into operation ourselves.” Wollmerstädt adds, “This was planned and implemented

R E N E WA B L E E N E R G Y by our subsidiary, ASG Engineering.” Werlitz proudly adds, “I manufactured the control cabinets for Menteroda 2 myself. With this approach, we are always kept fully up-to-date about the condition of the plant and can act largely independently, without outside help.” During the planning phase, Christoph Werlitz attended a technical training course conducted by Phoenix Contact. “The then-brand-new PGS controllers were introduced there. These generation system controllers are indispensable in the fi eld of renewable energies. They make it possible to regulate the strongly fl uctuating feeds into the power grid in such a way that there are no interfering peaks, for example when the sun is shining as intensely as it is today.” Engineer Dittmann points towards a bright blue sky. “The challenge of making the power grids of the future as bi- directional as possible is the curse and blessing of renewables. While in classical power generation with coal, gas, or nuclear energy fi nely tuned and long-plannable feed-ins into the power grids take place continuously, the activity of sun or wind is not linear and cannot be planned. So we need smart grids that are able to cope with strongly fl uctuating feed-ins.” Standardized and certifi ed The three experts leave the elevated solar panels behind them and drive to the grid connection point. Burkhard Dittmann has technicians from Werlitz show him the PGS controllers used and explains, “The special thing about our controllers is their ability to be adapted to very different parameters. The heart of the controller, which is certifi ed in accordance with the VDE AR N 4110/4120 standard, is our PLCnext industrial controller. Its ability to process different software protocols was particularly important here. ASG Solar defi ned guidelines on how the solar power plant should operate. And Christoph Werlitz was then able to download the appropriate PGS controller software from PLCnext’s own app store and adjust the parameters. The functionality for the controller was loaded into PLCnext and thus a solution was found that is precisely tailored to the situation here on site.” Christoph Werlitz adds, “It was particularly important to us that the controller could be adapted. With this capability, we do not lose any of the functionalities of the classic control technology but, on the contrary, we can use these controllers in other areas, such as wind turbine generators or combined heat and power plants. This means that a single technology can handle a wide range of energy mixes. This will increasingly be the challenge of the future – the electricity grids will be increasingly burdened by changing feeders and storage technologies. With the PGS controller from Phoenix Contact, we are ready for the future.” The Menteroda 2 plant is one of the fi rst plants to use the new PGS controller, because the technological work of art was only granted the necessary certifi cation shortly before installation and commissioning. And so the small town at the foot of the Harz Mountains may soon gain a name in the fi eld of regenerative energy production that sounds just as good as it did in the days of potash mining. (lo)  phoenixcontact.com Constant control of the location via remote diagnostics Christoph Werlitz relies on PLCnext Technology in “his” control cabinets The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 25

E N E R G Y S T O R A G E S Y S T E M S D uring off-peak periods at night, the base-load electricity generated by large-scale power plants should be stored and delivered during the day, at peak load times. This was the task of the Huntorf compressed air energy storage power station, built in 1978. In addition, the compressed air reservoir was also supposed to supply power stations with emergency power in the event of a power grid failure, as these also require start-up assistance in such situations. Today, completely new tasks await the old-timer of power stations. Pressure down below Compressed air energy storage sounds a little mundane. A little like compressed air cylinders. Pressure vessels of manageable dimensions. Those used in diving or as an air pressure dispenser at the gas station. But the scale on which the power station operators in Huntorf think has nothing to do with these small things. “To create these caverns, two salt Power station with “depth” above salt caverns The trick with compressed air The heart of the plant is the powerful compressor that pumps compressed air into underground cavities. The energy required for this is supplied by regenerative power plants when they are producing more than can be taken by the power grid. Compressor operation The compressor pumps air into the underground pressure reservoir when energy is to be stored m 0 0 6 m 0 0 2 Turbine operation At peak load times, the compressed air is burned together with natural gas to drive a turbine for power generation 28 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

The 27-year-old Philip Eiben has been responsible for Huntorf for seven years now The air must be cooled during compression and heated during expansion “There is just one other compressed air energy storage power station in the world, in the USA.” Philip Eiben, Huntorf power station manager domes were leached – that is to say, fl ushed out – from a depth of 650 to 800 meters,” explains Philip Eiben. It’s no wonder that the State Offi ce for Mining, Energy, and Geology (LBEG) of Lower Saxony is responsible for the offi cial supervision of the salt caverns. And that holds up? After all, air is compressed up to 72 bar here. “There is still at least 600 meters of earth and rock between us and the caverns,” Eiben reassures us. The electronics technician for industrial engineering knows “his” plant inside out; after all, he has been working on it for seven years to ensure its smooth operation. “This storage technology has been tried and tested for decades. Next door there are deposits of natural gas, also in salt dome caverns. They are absolutely tight.” Eiben points to a plant that can be seen in the distance. “We receive our natural gas, which we need for energy production, from there.” Gigantic air pump The principle of the pressure storage system is very simple: If energy is left over, it is used to drive a huge compressor, a kind of oversized air pump. This pumps air into the hollowed-out salt dome. There is space for up to 23,000 tons of air in the dark cave in the belly of the earth. If energy is then needed, this compressed air is allowed to rise again in a controlled manner to drive a gas turbine. Because the air is humid and cools down as it expands, it would cause any system to freeze up. Natural gas is therefore supplied via a gas pipeline. This air-gas mixture is fed into a gas turbine and burned. Electrical energy is produced by a coupled generator. The proportion of natural gas in the air- gas mixture is around just three percent. The effi ciency, at more than 42 percent, is high compared to conventional gas turbines due to the natural gas and compressed air supply needed. “The balance will be even better if wind farms would otherwise have to be shut down because you don’t know what to do with the energy generated,” Eiben explains, convinced of the importance of his power station. à The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 29

E N E R G Y S T O R A G E S Y S T E M S The power station can deliver the full capacity of 321 megawatts for three hours. The system then operates for a further fi ve hours with decreasing power, analogous to the decreasing compressed air pressure. This power is drawn upon by remote control from the Düsseldorf control center belonging to Uniper, the power station operator. This is where the schedulers are located who keep a constant eye on the electricity market and, when conditions are favorable, call upon the energy from Huntorf. Black-start capable This is also the economic task of the energy storage power station. This is because Huntorf can only be operated profi tably if the electricity is sold at times when prices are high and stored when generation prices are low. Currently, the energy storage facility is on standby for most of the year. A huge advantage of the energy storage power station is that it can be started very quickly. Within just three minutes, Huntorf is up and running at 50 percent, reaching full output after just seven minutes. And the system is “black-start capable”; that is to say, it can start up autonomously in the event of a total power failure and ensure that grid operations are restored. Lost In Space The control system and the technical equipment installed here are as old as the power station itself – the control room is like a throwback to Lost In Space. Despite regular maintenance, it was clear that the equipment would not be able to meet future challenges. One reason is that as part of the plant’s initial expansion, key operating data has to be read from the existing power station controller via the Modbus/TCP fi eldbus protocol and displayed via web-based visualization. To ensure that the operating personnel can respond quickly to any malfunctions, Modernized from the old (top and middle) to state-of-the-art and clear (right) Thanks to open system architecture, the new controllers are future-proof – for the next 40 years! 30 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Looks to be taken straight from an old science fiction show, but works perfectly – the control room relevant alert messages are sent to their smartphones. Furthermore, all operating data must be made available to the higher-level supervisory control room located at the Uniper power station in Wilhelmshaven. New protection for critical infrastructure The requirements of the operator make it clear that compatibility between the new technical system and the existing control engineering is crucial. At the same time, the solution should support future technologies. This is why, when it came to implementing the plant expansion project, Uniper chose PLCnext Technology from Phoenix Contact. PLCnext Control is a component part of this ecosystem. It is an open control platform based on a Linux operating system. In the Huntorf power station, the PLCnext Control device reads the key operating data from the existing power station controller and forwards it to the local web visualization, which can be accessed using a standard browser. Power stations are part of the critical infrastructure. They therefore require special protection when it comes to IT security so that attackers do not have an easy time. A fully and deeply integrated security strategy is the basis for comprehensive protection. To ensure the integrity, availability, and above all confidentiality of all data, PLCnext Technology offers security by design. The hardware and software are therefore already developed to be as robust and impervious to cyber attacks as possible. “The PLCnext Control device is the ideal solution for connecting the Huntorf storage power station to the existing control system as well as for reading and forwarding the data,” reports Uwe Krüger, Head of Operations Power Plant Group Wilhelmshaven. “The open control platform enables us to flexibly combine the older existing communication paths with new solutions. This allows us to expand the power station without a great deal of effort and expense, ensuring that it is fit to handle future challenges.” (js)  uniper.energy The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 31

O ur location is Remptendorf in one of the most beautiful corners of Thuringia, deep in the south of the state. We are visiting a transformer station which, in terms of its dimensions, is more like a sports stadium. “This is where electricity lines of all three voltage levels, that is to say 110 kilovolts (kV), 220 kV, and 380 kV, come together. And not just energetically, but also topographically arranged,” says Mahsum Kar, describing the plant and pointing to the various terraces in which the transformer station is located. The 31-year-old electrical engineering graduate gives us another tip. “You can also see the differences on the masts. One insulator is used for 110 kV, two for the 220 kV grid, and three on the 380 kV line.” Kar is a native Thuringian who has previously worked as a project manager for remote control technology in the field of renewable energies and medium-voltage grids. He is therefore not just at home here in Remptendorf, but also in the Phoenix Contact 34 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine General overview of the Remptendorf transformer station – the 110 kV level on the left, the extra-high voltage areas on the right Energy Automation team. He is here because the experts from our Gera subsidiary are active on site here to install a new generation of station control technology. Thomas Ehrhardt, team and project manager, explains. “Remptendorf is a plant steeped in history, and was already one of the hubs of the all-German power supply system back in the days of the “Reichssammelschiene” grid, which spread across the nation at the end of the 1930s. Over the decades, the plant has been repeatedly adapted to the requirements, because even if the electricity has not changed, new demands on the technology for transport and security of supply have continually been introduced and expanded.” For example, it was not until 1991 that a 380 kV line was connected in Remptendorf, thereby putting another “electricity highway” into operation. increasingly electrified world, the transport of electricity from the energy supplier is becoming increasingly more important. There are four voltage levels. Low voltage is that which is In an

P O W E R G R I D S available in households. Medium voltage, from 1 to 50 kV, supplies local grids. The experts begin to use the term high voltage at a voltage of 110 kV, which is used, for example, to power electric railways. In Remptendorf, for example, the power station at the Bleiloch Dam feeds this level of voltage into the grid. At 220 and 380 kV, we talk about extra-high voltage. A step back in time in the control room In transformer stations such as Remptendorf, the different voltage levels come together and are changed (transformed) by transformers to the appropriate range for the respective consumers. Thomas Ehrhardt explains. “Electricity network operators distinguish between station control and remote control technology. The first term refers to the safe control of the primary technical components; in other words, mainly disconnectors, circuit breakers, and transformers. The remote control technology monitors the plant for faults and makes remote control, i.e. operation from a distance, possible.” The company 50Hertz Transmission GmbH, one of the four major electricity network operators in Germany, has its headquarters in Berlin. The Remptendorf transformer station is usually also controlled from there. On site, the premises are only used when maintenance and conversion work is carried out. As is currently the case. Walking through the mostly deserted company buildings, we are reminded of the charm of past decades. Fascinated, we stand in a control room that looks as if we have taken a step back in time into the previous century. Volker Fleischer, the third member of the Phoenix Contact team, smiles at the enthusiasm for old material. “I have been with the company for 27 years and still remember this room when it was in active operation.” Fleischer is an expert for the visualization of station control technology. à “With the restructuring of power generation, the power grids also have to be adapted.” Thomas Ehrhardt, Phoenix Contact Energy Automation The control cabinets are completely pre- assembled and tested. The replacement will then take place on site Mahsum Kar and Thomas Ehrhardt in one of the relay stations where local control is possible The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 35

Large-scale power stations Power stations Solar power plants Municipal power station Wind farm Extra-high voltage usually 220 kV or 380 kV High voltage usually 110 kV Converter/ inverter Railway Industrial consumers Industrial consumers Medium voltage usually 10 to 20 kV Local grid City grid Low voltage <1,000 V, usually 400/230 V Extra-high voltage (EHV) High voltage (HV) Medium voltage (MV) Low voltage (LV) Transformer/substation 400 to 230 V 400 to 230 V Phoenix Contact Energy Automation The experts of the high-voltage grids have a varied company history behind them. The company “Relais- und Feinwerkbau Essen Helmut Mauell” was founded in Essen-Werden in 1957. From the very beginning, Mauell was a sure thing when it came to constantly inventing new things in the fi eld of grid technology, and over the years it produced many patents. The company moved to Velbert-Neviges in 1960. Volker Fleischer and Thomas Ehrhardt were already employees when the parent company was still headquartered in Velbert, and Mauell Netzleittechnik set up a branch in Weida, Thuringia, called Mauell Weida GmbH. The Bilfi nger Group took over Helmut Mauell GmbH in 2012, but withdrew from the power station control technology sector after just a few years. Mauell GmbH became independent again in 2016. Phoenix Contact took over the grid control technology division with the locations Velbert and Weida in 2017. Our East German colleagues then relocated to Gera in 2019. New products were developed, and after a long period of personnel cuts, new employees are now being hired again. 36 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine Overview of the power levels in the power supply The actual task of the three engineers is to replace the more than ten-year-old control technology with modern components from Phoenix Contact. Never change a running system – does that not apply here? “Quite simply, the requirements have increased signifi cantly,” explains Fleischer. “Fiberglass and Ethernet connections were already the standard 15 years ago. But now, the whole issue of security has been added. And of course we have also improved and developed our modules further, increasing processing power. Therefore, with renewing the technical components here in Remptendorf is of the utmost importance.” Ehrhardt adds, “In general, the restructuring of the power grids is placing an ever-greater burden on the grid operators. And also at the extra-high voltage level. The old one-way street principle is no longer suffi cient in times of fl uctuating energy feed-in from renewable energies. Large offshore systems or future energy storage power stations make it necessary for operators to keep their grids

P O W E R G R I D S Contact colleagues from Gera do not jump around when walking through the impressive system. Sturdy footwear and a profound knowledge base make dealing with extra-high voltage a technological challenge, but not a life-threatening undertaking. (lo)  phoenixcontact.com The world of today (and tomorrow) – Thomas Ehrhardt in the modern control room next door under control at all times and in real time using the latest remote control technology. And of course, the systems have to run stably 24/7 and have a service life of at least ten years.” Jumping around in tall grass There is no lack of work for the Energy Automation team of experts, because the 50Hertz power grid covers all of Eastern Germany, including the connection to offshore wind farms. In addition, the team also takes orders from Tennet, another grid operator. And the rest of Germany? "Our colleagues in Velbert, where the Phoenix Contact Group Energy Expertise Center is located, look after that.“ While twelve specialists in Gera take care of the crackling high voltage, the team in Velbert, North Rhine-Westphalia, made up of around 90 experts, ensures that the lights do not go out on Germany. The only thing that remains constant is the current itself. With a broad grin, the 50Hertz employee accompanying us tells us about summer tours for student groups. “When they walk between the systems in thin sandals across the damp grass, they really start jumping around.” Our Phoenix Time travel back to the world before automation. Volker Fleischer (right) remembers when control was manual here à 37

What does INGO do? Renewable energies can be exhausting. This is because they place completely new demands on the finely balanced system of the power grids. In Kadenbach in the Westerwald forest in Germany, a joint project is now providing clarity in the feed -in maze. L arge power stations have been humming and buzzing for decades, regardless of whether they are powered by coal, gas, oil, or nuclear power. Year in, year out, they deliver their power into the power grids with an even stability. From high to medium voltage and finally through to the house connection – just how power and grid operators like it. This is because countless electrical devices need a stable voltage, which they convert into music, clean laundry, or cellphone charges. Almost nothing works in our world anymore without electricity. It would be fantastic if this electricity was generated using wind, water, or the sun instead of having to burn fossil fuels. But this is where the challenges begin. Decentral generation plants such as wind turbine generators or à 38 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

P O W E R G R I D S solar parks operate irregularly, thus burdening the high- and medium-voltage grids with fluctuating yield loads. distribution stations. But now, there is suddenly movement in the low voltage range. Oncoming traffic on the electricity highway Rising climate awareness and public funding have led to a steadily increasing number of solar systems on household roofs. They feed their solar energy into the public grid. In this way, the consumer becomes the producer. However, the power grids are not designed for this. Decades of one-way streets have suddenly become a traffic artery with oncoming traffic. In the worst case, this feed-in produces so much electricity on the “wrong side of the road” that the grid violates its voltage range. Most of the electrical consumers do not like this at all and either climb out or become damaged. Kadenbach is a municipality at the gates of Koblenz, Germany. A sunny southern exposure, a large number of new buildings, solar panels on the roof, maybe an electric vehicle in the garage. To date, 27 home owners with rooftop systems feed around 190 kilowatts more electricity into the low-voltage grid on sunny days than the approximately 188 residential houses consume. Kadenbach is thus becoming a power station. Naturally, the local energy provider, Energienetze Mittelrhein, knows exactly what is happening on its grid, from the large power station via the lines into the town through to the Partners in the conversion of power grids to smart systems: Jean Müller, Phoenix Contact, Energienetze Mittelrhein, and PSI Gridconnect The energy flows which flow back into the transformer stations of the medium voltage supply cannot be monitored. The task is urgent: Measured values must be obtained that ensure transparency. These measured values must be used to automatically adjust the voltage levels in order to exclude mains fluctuations. The grid becomes smarter To this end, Phoenix Contact, Jean Müller GmbH, and the software manufacturer PSI Gridconnect joined forces with Energienetze Mittelrhein GmbH & Co. KG to develop a smart “We want to look to the future as we expand the grid.” Peter Wiacker, Head of Asset Management Energienetze Mittelrhein 40 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

The roof as a crime scene: The decentral feed-in of energy burdens the grids INGO is red, small, and transmits the data acquired to the cloud. Julian Kemper from PSI GridConnect explains how it works solution: The “Energy Control Interface”. This interface collects the values of the installed measuring sensors, processes them, and forwards them to the local substation via a special remote control protocol. The power supply and fuses are located in the interface. The hardware solution for the digitalization of low-voltage outputs can therefore be installed via plug-and-play. If the remote control unit cannot be set up on site, this can also be done using an offline tool or remotely via FTP data transfer. “In Asset Management, we would like to look to the future in terms of grid expansion and identify critical grid points at an early stage before they arise,” explains Peter Wiacker, Head of Asset Management at Energienetze Mittelrhein, who is also responsible for the power grids in this role. “For this purpose, it is imperative that we acquire measured values from the grid areas that have not yet been digitalized. This is the only way we can determine the effects of, for example, the considerable expansion of photovoltaics and how the power grid is influenced by the increasing number of public and private charging points and smart loads.” INGO is red The measuring sensors are installed in two cable distribution cabinets in the bright yellow fuse switchboards PLPlano from Jean Müller. They are connected to the Energy Control Interface. All measured values are passed on to the cloud- based smart grid platform. It goes by the catchy name The fuse switchboards are supplied by Jean Müller GmbH “PSInGO”, or INGO for short. The red box required for this is also installed on the busbar in the local grid distributor. This platform was developed by PSI Gridconnect. If grid nodes cannot be measured directly, PSInGO calculates them using an algorithm developed by PSI Gridconnect. In this way, the grid conditions in Kadenbach are made transparent to the grid management system. The calculation of the step position of the controllable local grid transformer is carried out locally by PSInGO and is implemented by a PLCnext control device from Phoenix Contact. If a limit value is exceeded, the system sends notifications to the responsible Energienetze Mittelrhein employees, who can intervene manually where necessary. Normally, however, the voltage levels are adjusted fully automatically. “Smart solutions such as the controllable local grid transformer station with wide-range control installed in Kadenbach can help us to master the challenges of the ongoing energy revolution,” explains Dr. Andreas Hoffknecht, Managing Director of Energienetze Mittelrhein. “The fully automatic compensation of voltage fluctuations will ensure a reliable supply of energy to the population in the future as well” (lo)  phoenixcontact.de/energie update.phoenixcontact.com/en/ The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 41

W hat the Vrielmann employees from Nordhorn prefer to produce is heavy. And it is big. A speciality of the company from the town in Lower Saxony, not far from the border with the Netherlands, is transformer stations and switching stations. Kevin ten Winkel is Project Manager, Energy Automation. We can consider him to be a building manager operating in digital spheres. Because measured values, control impulses, and change requests flow across his desk relating to the new office and production building, where our steps take us. A stroke of luck for a greenfield site The result of the cooperation between Vrielmann and Phoenix Contact is now freshly covered in the middle of a green field. The decision to build a new building was not taken by the manufacturing company with around 100 employees until 2017. ten Winkel explains: “The Vrielmann company has been around now for 44 years, starting out in a garage. It was initially quite classical in the field of control cabinet manufacturing. But we have quickly developed and specialized. Electrical systems, whether ultra-low, low, or high voltage up to 36,000 volts are our core business. At some point it became clear – it was time for a new start in terms of location.” Fittingly, one of the two General Managers, Heiko Ensink, joins the interview. He explains, à Kevin ten Winkel is Project Manager Energy Automation at Vrielmann 43

The ventilation and air-conditioning technology is one of the jewels of the combined oﬃ ce and production building Solution Architect at Phoenix Contact, adds: “We worked on a customer project together. During the course of this, they came to talk about Vrielmann’s own construction project. I decided to invite the Nordhorn-based expert to our Bad Pyrmont facilities.” There, Building 4 is now an internationally renowned showpiece with a multitude of innovative individual solutions in the fi eld of building automation. But above all, there is a revolutionary concept of overall control that drastically simplifi es the integration of new functionalities. Building planners under stress “It blew our minds. That was exactly what we were looking for,” ten Winkel says, showing that he is still impressed. “Keep it simple, keep it smart. That was and is the way that we, as specialists for electrical systems, wanted our own company building to be.” Daniel Kloster smiles when he talks about the small hurdles. “I actually come from the fi eld of air conditioning and ventilation technology. And so it was immediately clear to me that it would not be appropriate for a manufacturer of electrical systems, building automation, and grid analysis specialists to use gas boilers. Heat pumps would be needed here.” Together with the management 30 kilometers of network cable run through the 4,000 square meter building “We actually started with a blank sheet of paper. Initially, it was not about the building, but about our production processes. We analyzed them and used them to plan the optimum building.” thinking that in For anybody terms of construction only Elon Musk “can do it fast”, construction began in January 2019. “During construction, we stayed fl exible. This was quite fortunate, because we had planned a different level of building automation in the beginning.“ The contact with Phoenix Contact initially consisted only of supplying components for switchgear construction, and since 2018 has also grown into the fi eld of Smart Building. Daniel Kloster, who is closely involved in the Vrielmann project as Senior 30,000 meters of network cable run through the new building 44 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

S M A RT B U I L D I N G and project management, a comprehensive energy concept was drawn up. Photovoltaics and renewable energies were promoted and designed smartly into an overall concept. The whole thing also had to be intelligently controlled and adapted to Vrielmann’s processes. “Today, we have heating/cooling ceilings in use here,” says Ensink, pointing to the ceiling. “We have really grown together professionally with this construction. In the meantime, an entire department has been created which today deals with energy management and building automation. “There is not a comparable building within a radius of at least 300 kilometers.” Kevin ten Winkel, Project Manager Energy Automation, Vrielmann Kevin ten Winkel adds, “The building automation system, which is extremely flexible and easy to program thanks to its smart user interface, runs like a backbone through all levels of the building. We’ve laid around 30 kilometers of network cable here alone.” “This has many advantages”, Daniel Kloster explains, in his element. “On the one hand, with conventional cabling we would have needed three to four times as many cables, and we would also have needed much larger control cabinets. And a very decisive element is the flexibility of the entire building control system. Lighting control, media technology, air conditioning and heating control, energy management, ventilation – even the sanitary facilities are integrated into the building management system, and output and consumption are to requirements.” recorded and controlled according Kevin ten Winkel adds: “You won’t find a comparable building within a radius of at least 300 kilometers.” He has a quick think. “Okay, just one, because Bad Pyrmont and Building 4 are only about 200 kilometers away...” (lo)  vrielmann.com Vrielmann manufactures systems right through to transformer stations 45

Many award- winning outdoor lights are produced in Bispingen O ur vertical range of manufacturing is 120 percent,” Peter Oetjens has to laugh to himself when he sees the astonished looks of his guests as he walks through the production area. The extent of in-house production is impressive, as can be seen at the latest when looking at the aluminum foundry and the lamp housings produced here. But WE-EF Leuchten GmbH from Bispingen in Lower Saxony are also experts in complex technology. When it comes to the outdoor lighting produced by the innovative company, only LED technology is used. “LED is not just light,” says Peter Oetjens, head of Electrical Engineering Development at WE- EF. “Thanks to their intelligent electronics, LEDs can now be used in a more targeted and versatile way than any other conventional light source.” A favorite of architects and lighting designers The WE-EF company has been around for 70 years. It started out as an electrical installation company. In the meantime, the Bispingen-based company has dedicated itself entirely to the topic of outdoor lighting, whether suspended, mounted on masts, or as floor lamps. “We export worldwide and, in addition to the local site, we have trading offices in Melbourne, Pittsburgh and Lyon, as well as a production site in Thailand. We have about 500 employees worldwide.” The success of the smart lights among architects, lighting planners, and specialist planners, but also among garden designers, landscape designers, and experts in public utilities is no accident. Oetjens explains emphatically. “Thanks to the complete à 47

S M A RT L I G H T I N G control of our production, we not only deliver very good quality and a multi-award-winning design. We are constantly making LEDs smarter, squeezing the technology one twist further,” Modular LED lens technology is just one WE-EF fi eld of expertise. The individual lamps are “factory sealed”; in other words, they cannot be opened by the customer. At the beginning, this was not met with great enthusiasm, but today there is no alternative. This is the only way that the plug and play technology of modern outdoor luminaires can be realized. “And complaints, which would be due to incorrect installation of the lights, hardly ever occur nowadays.” Electronics from mast to lamp In addition to the ballast, WE-EF also integrates a communication module for data transmission of the integrated sensors into its new street lights. “For a project in Bielefeld, we completely redesigned the so-called assembly controller,” explains Oetjens. “The electronics should not be mounted on the mast, but directly in the lightshade.“ Since autumn 2019, this combination of LED lighting, ballast, sensor technology, and GPS communication module has been providing demand- oriented illumination for the footpath between the municipal theatre and the Brunnenstraße multi-story parking lot. From a height of six meters, the sensors register movement on the ground, and the respective lightshades regulate their light intensity. Thanks to the data acquired in the system, this results in better visibility, reduced energy consumption, and lower maintenance costs thanks to data collected in the system. The WE-EF designers used the QPD fast installation system from Phoenix Contact for the lighting power cabling. The advantage of the user-friendly principle is that with the proven QUICKON IDC fast connection, the installers can connect the cables on-site without any preparation work or special tools. Also smart in terms of handling. For Peter Oetjens, however, demand-based lighting control is just the beginning of intelligent lighting. “Other companies can produce hardware too. But for us, the potential lies above all in the range of functions and service,” says the 53-year-old. “My vision? I would like all of our lights to be intelligent and network-capable.” Bright lights in a smart city “And we are now thinking far beyond pure hardware.” The graduate production engineer and head of the laboratory for electrical engineering allows us to take a peak at the design department. “We entered the fi eld of smart lighting and connectivity a long time ago. In the future, all our lights will 48 WE-EF not only manufactures electronics, but also the aluminum castings themselves

Reliable connections guarantee years of outdoor operation “In the future, every one of our lights should be network-capable and therefore smart. Without exception!” Peter Oetjens, Head of Electromechanical Development at the WE-EF lighting company have network access. But we are also thinking ahead on the topic of light masts, and see close links here to electromobility, for charging e-bikes, or as a means of communication, for example equipped with SOS functions. Why shouldn’t drones also be able to land here, or voice communication with a medical fi rst aider be possible? Communication between road users and lights is also an interesting angle for us.” Prospects in smart lighting Oetjens is certain that WE-EF also has to deal with new added value, no longer just having the hardware under control. However, “We are full of new ideas and products. Smart lighting is a fascinating vision that has already begun.“ (lo)  we-ef.com Knowledge down to the last detail: Oetjens outlines the special features of LEDs Light emitting diodes Since the 1970s, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been on a triumphant technological march. At the outset, the semiconductor components were mainly used in simple, colored signal or status displays due to their electrical properties. In the meantime, these bright points are used in almost all areas of life, from fl ashlights, architectural and street lighting, to furniture, TV sets, and car headlights. Compared to conventional light sources and energy-saving lamps, LEDs are more compact, consume less electricity, and can be operated for much longer. Dimming and frequent switching on and off processes can be tolerated by LEDs without complaint. The advantage of semiconductor components is also a technical challenge for the manufacturer: In order to shine with a defi ned luminous intensity, LEDs are operated via a constant current source or a ballast. So-called LED drivers ensure a constant input power without current peaks and thus ultimately guarantee the longevity of the LEDs. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 49

H eat is becoming an increasingly important factor in the development of electrical devices. More and more power is being accommodated in ever-smaller housings, and yet the components still have to function reliably for years. Microscopic climate research – Patrick Hartmann is a member of a department responsible for the development and production of plastic housings. Electronics in a tight corset “Plastic simply has an enormous number of advantages as a housing material,” explains the 29-year-old engineer. “It is light, insulated, easy to machine, and offers much more design freedom than metal.” No wonder that housing production has a long tradition at Phoenix Contact. But plastic has two serious disadvantages. It conducts heat very poorly and is heat-sensitive. “So what?” some of you who are not technically minded may ask. It shouldn’t matter, because there are only electronic components inside the housing. “But they are also sensitive to heat,” explains the likeable expert patiently. “Capacitors can dry out, CPUs overheat, the service life of components can drop, or entire systems and production lines can stop operating. In the worst case, there is the threat of open fi re. Just think of certain models from a Korean mobile phone manufacturer which even led to fl ight bans.” What temperatures are we talking about? “While 60°C can be reached quickly in a normal control cabinet, the 52 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine Patrick Hartmann is an expert for thermal management in housing construction temperatures in housings are considerably higher. It’s not uncommon for temperatures of 85 to 90°C to be reached.” Factoring heat out Patrick Hartmann knows exactly what he’s talking about. Even when he was a dual student, he worked on thermal management in plastic housings in his master’s thesis. “Ever more powerful processors and components are installed in ever-smaller housings. This trend is continuing unabated, and will even continue to spread through all areas of industry and electronics in the context of 5G and embedded systems.” In the large control cabinet, the issue of heat is still relatively easy to solve. “You simply mount all components that emit a lot of heat toward the top. If there is any doubt, a ventilation system can be installed to dissipate the heat.” The problem when designing housings, however, is that space much tighter, and therefore the power density is higher. And the cost pressure is much greater. Therefore, it is necessary to provide protection against the heat emission differently in a tightly enclosed plastic housing. “Here, you have to know exactly where heat is generated. And then either plan ventilation slots, reposition components, or use heatsinks to dissipate the heat.” Which brings us nicely to the Blomberg expert’s special

T H E R M A L S I M U L AT I O N The topic has great potential. Housings developed in this way are already proving themselves in practice. “One of our customers needed an enclosure for a multi-channel monitoring system. This device is used to monitor large roller bearings, for example in wind turbines or ship propulsion systems. In this case, we not only carried out the thermal simulation of the appropriate housing and thus determined the optimum arrangement of components and connection technology, but also developed the appropriate heatsink to ensure reliable operation of the components in the harsh conditions on site.” (lo)  phoenixcontact.com “In the meantime, we have reached a point where simulation can practically replace laboratory testing.” discipline – thermal simulation. “In most cases, developers have chosen a housing, installed their components, made all of the connections, and only noticed during the test phase that the housing became too hot. In order to identify the hotspots, it is then necessary to carry out elaborate measurements using fairly rough thermography. Then the housing is modifi ed and tested again. This is laborious and expensive.” Keep a cool head “We have developed a way to simulate the development of heat sources with standardized components and values as early as in the engineering phase. Our customers specify which housing they have chosen, the environment in which it will be used, and which components will be used in the housing. We then arrange them appropriately in the simulation. If necessary, we recommend modifying the housing, for example with ventilation slots, or we recommend the use of a heatsink.” Hartmann adds, “We have now reached a point where we can practically replace laboratory testing with simulations.” The experts have even taken things one step further. “Customers can also initiate such a thermal simulation for our new ICS housing system online themselves. First, the customer confi gures the housing according to their requirements, and then defi nes their own thermal conditions including heat sources. The simulation is then run automatically at our company, is evaluated using a standardized procedure, and is made available to the customer through a results report sent by e-mail. We hope that this will encourage many curious users to carry out their fi rst thermal investigations virtually themselves.” Housings are indispensable in the world of electronics The latest ICS housing generation with integrated heatsink 53

Speed even when charging – CCS technology put to the test R acing events in the motorcycle circles are a world of their own. Here, clichés are served up in equal measure: Long hair, black leather, crazy beards, hard beats, and above all the sound of engines, whether screeching and highly tuned from Japan or throaty booming from the USA. Above all, there is a mixture of oil, gasoline, rubber, and grilled sausage. In short: Just the right backdrop for an East Westphalian high-tech company well known to our readers to clearly show its colors in the future of e-mobility. This is because in 2019, a completely new motorcycle category was launched in the top class of racing, the Motorcycle Grand Prix: the MotoE. These are also fast as an arrow and strong as an ox. But without the typical screeching of the four-cylinder engine, which produces up to 15,000 rpm. That said, the electrifi ed speedsters are not silent either, because in addition to the singing tires, the powerful electric motor also produces high-frequency singing – an ode to the new form of locomotion. The new racing series, which is to develop in parallel to the classic Moto GP event, has not come out of the blue. Racing has always been the ideal setting for the manufacturers of two-wheelers to bring their brand message to fans and the people. In the past, these championships were dominated The powerful battery sits skintight in the forged tubular grid frame “You can feel the extra weight on the brakes, but the acceleration is just amazing.” Bradley Smith, Team One Energy Racing 56 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

E- M O B I L I T Y T O T H E E X T R E M E E- M O B I L I T Y T O T H E E X T R E M E by the likes of Ducati, Yamaha, Honda, and similar brands. But in the meantime, a completely new form of electrifi ed locomotion on two wheels is moving through the metropolises of the world, especially in Asia. There, it is becoming increasingly diffi cult for the established big names to gain approvals for their motorcycles with combustion engines. The smog clouds created by the mostly cheap single engines, often two-strokes, which rattled through the narrow streets by the tens of thousands, were simply too extreme. And even though the modern engines produced by the established manufacturers are signifi cantly less polluting than their distant relatives made in cheap, simple production facilities, all forms of combustion engines are facing increasing diffi culties. It started with the scooter As a consequence, the triumphal march of electromobility began fi rst and foremost by shaking up the scooter market. And it is gradually encroaching on the fi eld of the larger two-wheelers as well. Against the backdrop of climate change and the energy revolution, this is a logical step. So there is a great deal of interest in bringing electromobility into racing as well. And in the two- wheeled sector, the proximity of series to racing bike is more pronounced and the development is faster and fi nancially more manageable than in the four-wheel Formula 1 category. And the racy speedsters do not have to hide from their exhaust gas-emitting counterparts. Although their battery load makes them much heavier than, say, the premier class in Moto GP (157 kg versus 260 kg), they have long since achieved speeds and lap times equivalent to those of Moto2, the second strongest prototype racing class in the motorcycle world championship. Performance explosion The batteries, which the electric racing motorcycles have placed where the tank and the motor unit are located for motorcycles with combustion engines, have a capacity of 21 kW/h. This is enough to cover racing distances of eight to ten laps – quite suffi cient for the introduction of a completely new racing series with new technology. The performance levels practically exploded, from an already-remarkable 130 kW (177 PS) to 200 kW (272 PS), and in qualifying even reaching 250 kW (340 PS). And this with the typical characteristic of electric motors, which provide their maximum torque of around 215 Newton meters almost immediately. à 12 racing stables compete in the MotoE World Cup 57

E- M O B I L I T Y T O T H E E X T R E M E charging technologies Such battery power densities require the best available. The charging stations themselves come from the Italian manufacturer Enel. However, on closer inspection, the connoisseur will also see well- known technology from East Westphalia: The CCS charging connectors and sockets from Phoenix Contact are integral components in fi lling these hotrods with power. Crazy acceleration The ride on the electric cannonball is not without its problems, as top driver Bradley Smith of Team One Energy Racing from England reveals in an interview. “The acceleration straight out of the curve is simply amazing. Of course you notice the extra weight of the machine on the brakes, so I have to pull earlier and harder. This also takes time. And in tight corners I have to steer the bike around much more with my body weight. It’s hard work. But in terms of speed, the level of Moto2 has already been reached. And we’re still at the beginning.” 2019 was the start of the series at the German Sachsenring. Phoenix Contact E-Mobility is an offi cial partner of the Energica Motor Company SPA. The Italian electric motorcycle manufacturer not only now produces three sinfully beautiful e-bikes for the road, but also all the motorcycles for the various racing teams. 18 machines are available to 12 racing stables. Uniform technology in a racing series guarantees very special excitement, because the driver and their skills are the most important factors. The racing motorcycles are based on the street-legal and freely available “Energica Ego”. Success despite breakdowns Although the actual race at the Sachsenring was limited to just eight laps, this did not detract from the seriousness of the riders and their crews, because the hot e-bikes were extensively maintained, optimized in their details, and star riders were hired who are able to shoot the bikes around the track the way they are intended to be. You can’t plan everything: The race was stopped on Sunday after just fi ve laps – due to a hard fall caused by the sudden rainy weather. Our interviewee Bradley Smith fi nished second, behind the Finn Niki Tuuli from the Ajo Team. He is therefore entitled to the historic honor of being the fi rst winner of the MotoE racing series. And beneath him, hidden by his racing suit and all the branding, a small but important piece of East Westphalia rode along on the victory ride. (lo)  update.phoenixcontact.com/en/ Interview with Bradley Smith, one of the top riders in MotoE during the 2019 season. He currently competes in MotoGP The charging socket is hidden under the seat and is used to “refuel” energy 58 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Interview with Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs T he automation expert believes that a world whose engine is electricity is also future-proof for future generations. The designated president of the ZVEI was a participant in this year’s Digital Days, the virtual trade fair event of the Hannover Messe. We met the trained engineer and top manager in this context. è The ZVEI has launched a campaign called “Innovation protects climate”. How does that work – how can innovation protect the climate? In fact, this is a huge issue for us, and we as an industry have a lot to say about it. Today we are facing the greatest challenges in human history – namely climate protection and global warming. We need a climate which, in perspective, must be able to support the lives of around eleven billion people. Electrical engineering can make a signifi cant contribution here. And we do this by not protecting the climate through banning and prohibiting things, but by thinking about technological alternatives and innovations. The aim must be to increase consumption and prosperity, and to do so for everyone. And, in turn, without further increasing carbon à 61

I N D E M A N D be reaching the idealists, who already take on responsibility themselves. But that is just 10 or 20 percent, not the decisive masses. è But attractiveness for individuals and companies means that politicians must create the framework conditions for this. They are the only ones who can create these framework conditions. One example is the need to price CO2. This must be the decisive steering element with which we work. This makes it worthwhile to think and move away from CO2 and towards renewable energies. This would not require the invention of new taxes. Those that already exist would have to be balanced in such a way that future technologies would be profitable and competitive more quickly. We are still not doing this consistently enough today. There is still too much resistance because of the alleged protection of confidence or investment. But the necessary social change is also enormous. è Is the revolution and the associated disruptions in technology and the economy too slow? This is always a question of what time scale you are using. If you say now that this will take 20 years, it sounds agonizingly slow. If you look around in 20 years, you will see that no stone has been left unturned. That’s pretty disruptive. For a social system, for a society, 25 years is a very short period of time. Within this time frame, it is almost impossible to complete a transformation without there being those that are severely disadvantaged. And we absolutely have to avoid a rupture ripping through society due to this transformation, leaving large groups of people disadvantaged as a result. emissions and without sawing off the branch that we are sitting on. This can only be achieved through innovation. è Do you expect that the use of fossil fuels will be phased out completely? We will use these energy sources differently, for example to produce plastics or medicines. In this role, they will remain indispensable. After all, natural gas has long since become not just an energy source for the chemical industry, but also the basic material for many products. We must assume that in the next 20 to 30 years we will change all processes worldwide in which humans release carbon emissions in such a way that no more carbon dioxide is released. è Economy at the service of ecology – is that now, to put it provocatively, “green washing” for an industry? No, quite the opposite. We must accept that the most powerful instrument for change is the market economy system. For entrepreneurs, it must make sense and be profitable to invest in decarbonizing; then they will do it. And it must also be financially attractive for the individual to engage in carbon-free activities. This is how I am putting the economy at the service of ecology. Only if we manage to provide this incentive will everyone gather behind it. Otherwise, I will only 62 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

“It is simply impossible to just drop everything and replace it with nothing. It just doesn’t work.” è The scientific community has been pointing out this problem for decades. Has the economy overslept and therefore magnified the problems? Yes, you could say that. It took time for the idea of climate protection to develop out from schools and universities. In the years from 2000 to 2007, we had a period without a rise in temperature. All of the forecasts imploded because they were all wrong. And that is why it took a long time for the conviction to prevail that climate change had begun. There are still very influential political figures in the world today who deny this change. è Then why wasn’t it implemented much earlier, and more forcefully? In the early stages of the discussion, the theory of consistent avoidance was the wrong approach, because it was clear from the beginning that it would not work. Climate protection and avoidance have been linked together for far too long. If we had made it clear from the outset that we had to solve the problem with technology, we would be much further along today. è Is there now a completely different consensus on climate protection then, even in the business world? Yes, that’s right. In the beginning, the climate protectors, today’s Greens, were a collection of dreamers. But after a few years, the Greens were the only ones who had created a sustainable, intelligently constructed long-term, and environmental and energy policy, which was then driven forward through many many legislative periods. Today, we are generating around 55 percent of our electricity from renewable energies. This would not have been possible without the Greens and their clear, strategic, sustainable approach. After all, we have not just abandoned nuclear energy, but have massively entered the field of renewable energy. It is simply impossible to just drop everything and replace it with nothing – it just doesn’t work. è But is it true that we really have to step on the gas at this exact moment, right now? Of course. And if the German state wants to drive things forward, then it must start right there. When I think of the Upper Lusatia region, for example, and its structural change, I would go precisely there with large refineries to produce synthetic fuel. With 30 percent of all fuel produced for German mobility, many problems would be solved immediately. Jobs in the region, technological leadership, and also a much cleaner technology than the entire surface and underground mining industry today. But I do not yet see this willingness to take risks. Even if there are no alternatives. We have to steer towards these new technological concepts. (aj)  phoenixcontact.com zvei.org The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 63

Japanese company chooses PLCnext Cooperation with Yaskawa Did you know that the inventor of the term mechatronics comes from Japan? The company Yaskawa, today one of the leading manufacturers of industrial robots, registered the trademark rights back in 1971. Now, the Japanese company has agreed on a technology partnership with Phoenix Contact which, according to COO Ulrich Leidecker, “is a milestone for the automation industry, because the more partners act in an open automation ecosystem, the more valuable it becomes for each individual participant.” Yaskawa, a leading company in this industry, has decided to use PLCnext Technology. As a part of this framework, Phoenix Contact will license its PLCnext runtime environment to Yaskawa and has agreed upon joint further development. Yaskawa plans to use the PLCnext runtime system in the fi elds of Motion Controls and Robotics, initially in Europe and the USA. yaskawa.com B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S Digital home run number two Phoenix Contact Dialog Days November 16 – 20 The COVID crisis does not only have negative results. It has given the economy momentum towards digital working methods that was hardly thought possible. bandwagon and developed their own formats, not only in terms of content but also in terms of organization. The second edition of If getting together in-person is no longer allowed, how can you reach your customers and bring new technologies to the market? This is a sensitive issue, as the traditional trade fairs have been almost entirely canceled for 2020. Phoenix Contact has very quickly and consistently ventured into the format of a digital trade show event, the Dialog Days. With so much success that other companies have jumped on the Dialog Days will be held from November 16 to November 20, 2020 to accompany the SPS connect and electronica virtual trade fairs, which are also being held digitally. No expensive traveling days, no time-consuming journey, no risk – but with the full depth of information and support from the expert Phoenix Contact team. phoenixcontact.com Heavy swell for weighty test objects New heavy-duty platform moves in to the Phoenix Testlab Phoenix Testlab is an independent testing institute which, since its foundation in 1994, has become an international institution for many industrial tests from a number of industries. It is not only the technical requirements that have grown over the last few years, but also the dimensions of the test objects. Consequently, a new mover and shaker has now moved into the test halls at the Königswinkel facility in Blomberg. And it is powerful: A test object can weigh up to three tons. To ensure that it can vibrate and shake (hence the name) at frequencies from 2 to 500 Hz, a massive 35-ton steel plate rests on its own vibrating foundation. It is designed in such a way that it can also meet the requirements of the US Coast Guard during tests for maritime use – important, for example, when machine parts for shipping have to be tested. The vibrations can be applied both horizontally and vertically. And for those who think that this is no big deal, the engineers at Phoenix Testlab can also carry out testing at temperatures from -40°C to +120°C as well. phoenix-testlab.com 64 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S Axel Wachholz, Torsten Janwlecke, Frank Stührenberg, Dr. Frank Possel-Dölken, Dirk Görlitzer, Roland Bent, Ulrich Leidecker (from left) The new management team The Executive Board of Phoenix Contact is repositioning itself for the new decade Professor Gunther Olesch and Roland Bent, two faces of Phoenix Contact who have shaped the company for decades, will leave the Executive Board in 2020/21. These are big shoes to fill. But the four “newcomers” appointed to the Executive Board since August 1 are anything but novices at top management. Torsten Janwlecke remains President of the Device Connectors Business Area. He will retain this role, “enriched“ in the future with his new responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer (COO). The same double challenge awaits Dirk Görlitzer as President of the Industrial Components and Electronics Business Area and Ulrich Leidecker, who will remain President of the Industry Management and Automation Business Area. The three new COOs will be joined by Dr. Frank Possel-Dölken on the Executive Board. He will be taking on the role of Chief Digital Officer (CDO), thus bundling and strengthening the digitalization of technology and process development. Axel Wachholz as CFO and Frank Stührenberg as CEO will continue to perform their duties almost unchanged. And, to paraphrase the author J. K. Rowling, they will never really leave us. Roland Bent is more likely to go into retirement after February 2021, as the then 63-year-old will be active as Chief Representative for Phoenix Contact in the area of international standardization. He will also perform his honorary functions in the field of national and international standardization. phoenixcontact.com Printed as simulated E-Mobility goes East New service with pure copper Successful subsidiary expands production with plant in Poland 70 employees will start in Rzeszów, and by 2023 the workforce is expected to grow to more than 250. update.phoenixcontact.com/en/ The Protiq team mastered printing copper some time ago. But the 3D printing professionals from Blomberg are constantly working on new, innovative processes. Now they have made their next coup public. The heating behavior of inductors is crucial for efficiency in their field of application. However, until the optimum coil is obtained, many test geometries usually have to be produced in conventional manufacturing processes and tested in real heating trials. This is costly and time-consuming. Protiq has now developed a computer-aided simulation to visualize the behavior of the coils in the process and thus determine an optimized inductor geometry. protiq.com https://www.elektroniknet.de/international/ Electromobility is booming – with even greater vehemence. As a technology leader in the field of charging technology, Phoenix Contact E-Mobility had to act in order to meet the needs of its customers on time. But there is no room for a significant growth in size at the Schieder site. So a European solution was needed. The Polish location Rzeszów-Dworzysko, about 100 kilometers west of the border with Ukraine, was chosen. The new, approximately 15,000-square meter plant in the local science and technology park is scheduled to open its doors around New Year’s 2021. Around The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6/20 65

B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S 400 kW fast charging station on the Spanish A8 freeway on the Bay of Biscay Arriba Arriba Spain’s Basque Country has the most powerful electric charging stations in Europe 400 kW is not a zip code, but a real house number. That’s how much “juice” is delivered by the four charging stations that have been in operation on the A8 freeway on the Bay of Biscay in Spain since October 2019, holding the title of “Europe’s most powerful charging stations”. This means that a charging process, assuming that the vehicle is capable of these powers, doesn’t take much longer than conventional fi lling up at the gas station. The project is part of intensive efforts to achieve a mobility revolution towards e-mobility in Spain as well. Especially in northern Spain, in the regions of the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia, the expansion of the necessary infrastructure is being massively promoted. Initial contacts were agreed upon back in 2018 with Ingeteam, an international technology group that also has charging stations in its portfolio, as well as with the Spanish operator Ibil and its parent company Repsol. Phoenix Contact is the market leader on the Iberian peninsula in the fi eld of connection technology for charging stations. The fi ve-member Spanish e-mobility team had to solve many a technological challenge in close cooperation with their German colleagues, because the integration of charging connection and charging controller initially caused some ingenious worry lines for some. This is because all four charging points had to be capable of providing the high power at the same time. After just one year of development work, the fast charging stations are ready for power-hungry e-drivers. The prestigious dedication ceremony was attended not only by prominent political fi gures from local and regional government, but also by Repsol’s CFO, Josu Jon Imaz, and the President of Ibil, Emiliano López Atxurra. This is a clear indication of how highly the future prospects of electromobility are rated in Spain. The charging station is part of the Repsol Service Station Ugaldebieta on the A8 freeway. It is aimed primarily at commuters and long-distance drivers who want to charge large batteries in a short amount of time. However, skepticism surrounding e-mobility still dominates among Spaniards. Just 76,430 electric cars are on Spanish roads (as of August 2020), and the public grid has 6,500 charging stations. Around 80 percent of all charging processes are via domestic socket. Nevertheless, the target of 500,000 vehicles by 2030 seems to be achievable, because here too, purchase incentives such as a scrapping bonus for internal combustion engines are intended to give impetus to the market. repsol.com Gemini Team Industrial Digital Twin Association founded The industry associations VDMA and ZVEI, Bitkom, and 20 companies from the mechanical engineering and electrical industry have committed themselves to the open source development of the Digital Twin for Industry 4.0. With the foundation of the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA), the participants, including Phoenix Contact, want to harmonize the parallel developments of the individual partners and create a common open development platform (open source). In Industry 4.0, the “parents” of the digital twin create an interface between the physical industrial products and the digital world. The results of the consistent availability of data throughout the entire life cycle, from planning and development through to production, use, and recycling, are expected to be processes that can be optimized and completely new business fi elds. zvei.org New boss at the sales subsidiary One Stephan remains – Stephan Volgmann It's musical chairs on the Blomberg management fl oor. While Stephan Frigge is strengthening the management of the Device Connectors (DC) Business Area as the person responsible for marketing and sales as part of the restructuring of the Executive Board, Stephan Volgmann is taking on the role of General Manager of Phoenix Contact Deutschland GmbH. Volgmann started his career at Phoenix Contact in 2004 in the machine building department in Blomberg. After holding positions in the Automotive and Industry Management Solar sectors, he was most recently head of Vertical Market Management Energy. He summarizes his experiences in a statement: “It is becoming less and less suffi cient to just offer products alone. You don’t just have to know how to solve things, you have to be able to create the whole chain.” phoenixcontact.com 66 UPDATE 6/20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

The next issue will be published in February 2021: Water The source of life on our planet and available in abundance. However, mostly in saltwater or cloud form. We encounter H2O everywhere, whether as drinking or wastewater, as a transport medium, or in a desired or undesired frozen form. In this issue, we will reveal what this has to do with Phoenix Contact. FLOATING POWER STATION Solar power from the quarry lake Solar power needs space. If space is not available, then the smart power station operator takes to the water. And makes the panels fl oat… PUMPS IN THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT Wastewater monitor Constance’s sewage network is 295 kilometers long. Heavy work for 26 pumping stations. And the theater of operations for modern control center technology. LIGHTNING PROTECTION FOR DRINKING WATER Impact protection How the drinking water supply can be reliably protected against overvoltage. Legal information Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG Corporate Communications Lutz Odewald (Editor-in-Chief) Telephone: +49 5235 3-42153 E-mail: lodewald@phoenixcontact.com Cooperation: Angela Josephs (aj), Joel Stratemann (js) Design and implementation: Ralf Tegtmeyer, Christian Brill Photo credits: Cover picture: © Nikolett Emmert/Shutterstock © Shutterstock: 6, 7, 64, 67 Andre Köller: 3, 8 ff., 58 ff. Thomas Franz: 16 ff., 26 ff., 32 ff., 38 ff. Burkhard Dittmann: 22 ff. Lutz Odewald: 42 ff., 46 ff., 52 ff., 62 ff. E-bikes out of the curve: ADAC Motorwelt (p. 52/53) Copyright © 2020 Phoenix Contact All rights reserved.