In addition to the “Biotonne”, the organic waste bin used by German households for mainly disposing of domestic vegetable waste, the separate collection of coarse woody materials from garden and park waste could provide a significant amount of fuel for thermal utilisation. Scientists have investigated the potential provided by biomass that is better suited for combustion in CHP plants instead of composting.  more...

A new, almost climate-neutral urban district is being built on the site of a former freight yard in Esslingen. Over a period of five years, scientists in the planned Neue Weststadt district are experimenting with an innovative energy supply concept with which electricity surpluses from intermittent renewable energies will be converted into hydrogen, stored and, if necessary, returned to the grid. The district will also serve as a real-world laboratory for the system-supportive coupling of the heating, cooling, electricity and mobility sectors.  more...

In order to achieve the goal of meeting Germany's energy demand almost completely with renewables by 2050, it is planned that facades and partially shaded surfaces should also be used for generating electricity by photovoltaic means. The modules that can be used for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) have to meet considerable requirements in terms of their appearance, performance and costs. Experts have summarised this need for action in their recommendations for the German federal government's 7th Energy Research Programme.  more...

Compensating supply fluctuations will prove vital in future power grids utilising high proportions of wind and solar energy. The demand driven generation of electricity from biogas can make a viable contribution in this regard. Researchers are developing new systems and software for biogas plants, integral in facilitating such flexible operational characteristics. This involves the precision monitoring and regulation of biogas production and conversion into electricity.  more...

Modern building facades can do more than provide insulation and outer envelopes for buildings. New photovoltaic modules give designers considerable scope when designing the colour of facade surfaces. Unlike standard solutions, such energy facades make a considerable contribution to improving the energy balance of buildings. Standard silicon, thin-film and organic PV elements can be used.  more...

The innovative CentRec radiation receiver has passed its first practical test at very high temperatures in the DLR’s solar tower in Jülich. The receiver uses ceramic particles as a heat storage medium. These are inexpensive, enable very high temperatures and can be handled with relatively little effort. The practical test at very high temperatures is an important step on the way to marketing this receiver technology.  more...

Last week, TU Dresden officially launched the long-term National 5G Energy Hub research project. This is aimed at making the future 5G mobile standard usable for applications in energy technology. Project partners are TU Dresden in cooperation with RWTH Aachen, Deutsche Telekom and Ericsson. In addition, the associated partners Techem, VDZ, E.ON and the city of Dresden are also involved.  more...

Companies and scientists are investigating the storage of fluctuating wind energy in the form of hydrogen on a research plant located in the Mainz-Hechtsheim commercial zone. All key components from generation and storage to utilisation at an industrial scale are being looked at and interlinked with innovative technology components. The PtG plant (Power-to-Gas) at megawatt scale facilitates not only the chemical long-term storage of energy. It furthermore interconnects the electricity, heat and mobility sectors.  more...

In the REGEES research project, a consortium from research and industry has developed optimal operating and control strategies for a reliable electrical energy supply in Germany. The aim is to fully integrate the feed-in from renewable energies created by 2030.  more...

Researchers at Munich University of Applied Sciences and TU Dresden have developed an innovative energy concept for an energy-plus district, which is to be implemented in the “Neue Mitte” of Geretsried (Bavaria) by the end of 2019. The concept combines the utilisation of different energy technologies with the goal of electrical network neutrality, i.e. maximising own coverage of electricity requirements and own use of the generated electricity.  more...