Energy agencies of the German Federal States of Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia have developed a tool under the name KOM.EMS for establishing and operating an energy management system for municipal administrations. The tool aids in evaluating, optimising and perpetuating energy management. The online tool was unveiled to the public on 13 September.  more...

The German cabinet has passed the new, 7th “Innovations for Energy Transition” Energy Research Programme. The programme replaces its predecessor from 2011. Content-wise, the programme builds on the successes of recent years, sets new courses and defines focal points for research funding and innovation policy in the energy sector. For the years 2018-2022, the German Government is budgeting 6.4 billion euros for energy research.  more...

Large-scale solar thermal systems are being increasingly used in heating networks. The Steinbeis Research Institute Solites in collaboration with international partner organisations has created a newly designed information service on solar-supported heating networks at www.solare-waermenetze.de. At the heart of the web platform is a database that provides comprehensive technical and economic expert knowledge.  more...

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...

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...

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...

The number of buildings heated by heat pumps continues to rise. In recent years, air-water heat pumps have been the dominant force in this regard. More energy efficient alternatives exist, however, to outside air as a heat source. Examples include geothermal energy, ground water, exhaust air and solar thermal energy. The variety of potential heat sources and of heat exchangers tapping these presents an incredible challenge for planners. Validated concepts, objective decisionmaking guidance and analyses are consequently called for. This endeavour is supported by two research groups.  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 expansion of renewable energies requires increasingly flexible, complementary power generation as well as flexibilisation of the electricity demand from consumers. In addition to traditional electricity-to-electricity storage systems and flexible power plants, buildings can also play an important role in shifting electricity demand.  more...