The indoor swimming pool in Lünen has pioneered the energy standard. After two years in operation, the scientific monitoring has verified that the concept has been a success. The swimming pool, which has been constructed to the passive house standard, consumes considerably less heat and electricity than a conventional indoor swimming pool. Optimisation could reduce the final energy consumption by a further 25 per cent. The monitoring also enables the energy flows and their interactions in the swimming pool hall to be ascertained more precisely.  more...

Whether it is worth replacing a window can be determined using the Uwin software program. This assesses the energy-related properties of existing windows, including their degree of air-tightness and type of installation. The Uglass mobile measurement device has been developed in order to determine the glazing data precisely. It measures the thermal insulation value of insulating glazing in just a few minutes. This enables the expected savings in window and facade refurbishments to be easily and precisely determined. The software is already available on the market and the measurement device is still in the test phase.  more...

The two Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency export initiatives help small- and medium-sized enterprises to open foreign markets. In order to make contact with potential cooperation partners, they are offering diverse business trips to Europe and the rest of the world this year. The service includes an analysis of the specific interests of the companies taking part. Based on this, the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce Abroad (AHKs) are organising individual meetings for the participants with representatives from business, science and administration.  more...

Geothermal heating ensures that railway points also remain working when there is ice and snow. Once installed, they work independently using only geothermal energy and without any additional energy being supplied. After many years of research and testing in pilot rigs, the system has now been approved by the German Federal Railway Authority.  more...

The interdisciplinary NEOTHERM junior research group at Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg is developing new materials for storing thermal energy. Using new composite materials, the scientists at the Faculty of Process and Systems Engineering (FVST) want to recover and store unused solar thermal energy and waste heat from industry. This energy can be used, for example, for heating domestic hot water or for space heating.  more...

Over the last few years, heat pumps have become more efficient. In a recent interview, Marek Miara, head of the heat pump unit at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, talked about research results and future development potential. His team has completed three large-scale monitoring projects in old and new buildings.  more...

Spray scrubbers have been successfully used in power plants for years for desulphurising flue gas. Now it is intended that they should scrub another material – namely climate-harming carbon dioxide (CO₂). Until now a hurdle preventing large-scale CO₂ capturing has been the high investment costs for the plant technology and the considerable amount of energy required for the operation. The University of Stuttgart is therefore working with partners to improve this process.  more...

A consortium from science, manufacturers and power plant operators is investigating the new materials under real conditions at the GKM power plant in Mannheim (Grosskraftwerk Mannheim). Professor Karl Maile, Commercial Director of the Materials Testing Institute at the University of Stuttgart (MPA Stuttgart), is heading the scientific support research on the high-temperature material test facilities (HWT I and II). In the interview, he talked about the importance of the ongoing material development for the flexibility and efficiency of power plants.  more...

Every wind turbine that is connected to the grid affects the grid quality. Until now, operators have not known the precise extent to which they do this and instead rely on estimations. In order to make better use of capacities and prevent disruptions, scientists at Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg have therefore designed a measuring device that determines the effect of wind turbines on the medium-voltage grid. It is planned to produce a measuring device for high-voltage lines by 2016.  more...

The ideal course of a power route depends on a number of factors. Scientists at the Technical University of Dortmund have joined forces with the grid operator Amprion to model a weighting function which systematically reproduces the relevant criteria. A computer-aided planning tool shall enable planners to make an objective assessment of various route layouts, visualise different alternatives and swiftly develop suitable compromises.  more...