Preparations are currently under way for a new energy research programme, which the German Federal Government intends to publish in the coming legislative period. In preparation, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has started a discussion process between representatives from industry, science and politics in order to identify relevant fields of research. In this interview Dr Johannes Tambornino, Head of Energy Strategies and System Analysis at Project Management Jülich speaks about the growing importance of system analysis for energy research. more...
Last week, on 2nd May 2017, the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Brigitte Zypries, opened the celebration for the anniversary of “40 years of energy research programmes in the German Federal Government” in the historic conference rooms of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Berlin. She emphasised that research and development are important components in the large modernisation and investment project for energy transformation in Germany.
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Until now, the energy and transport sectors were considered separately from one another in the energy balance. The “Energy transition in transport” funding initiative by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is entering into force to change that. It is intended to help bring the energy and transport sectors closer together and advance the technological possibilities in a cross-system approach encompassing a wide range of vehicles.
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Highly efficient, low-noise and zero-emission: the electric powertrain offers dynamic mobility, can integrate renewable energies and makes the transport sector less dependent on crude oil as an energy source. However, which technology will dominate electric vehicles of the future: batteries or fuel cells? An either-or decision is not necessary.
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How can energy be stored near offshore wind farms in the future? Researchers have developed a new storage system that works with hollow spheres on the seabed. The principle is similar to conventional pumped storage power plants. At the end of 2016, the researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology IWES tested a three-metre concrete prototype in Lake Constance. The test results are highly promising.
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The factory of the future is flexible and networks the energy flows between machinery and buildings. The so-called Phi Factory is not only very energy-efficient, it also helps stabilise the electrical supply grid. The new model factory relies on a high share of renewable energy and helps smooth out electricity supply fluctuations.
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Surplus electricity can be used in Power-to-Gas systems to generate hydrogen by means of electrolysis. Downstream methanation provides a possibility for storing the remaining gas that cannot be directly used or fed into the natural gas network. The initial, highly promising results for a newly developed biological process have now been presented. The test facility has a low energy requirement and the process is continuous. The system is suitable for decentralised and small systems.
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The modular, large-scale M5BAT battery storage system recently began operating in Aachen, Germany. With a 5 MW output and a storage capacity of 5 megawatt-hours, it is the largest battery storage system currently being researched. Together with industrial partners, scientists at RWTH Aachen are testing the interaction of five different battery types and are developing business models for decentralised storage systems in actual grid operation.
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How can urban regions contribute more to the energy transition? To find this out, scientists are investigating virtual energy storage systems in Herten in North Rhine-Westphalia and in Wunsiedel in Bavaria. The field trial started on 30 June 2016.
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What role will functional storage systems play in the energy supply system of the future? Which system infrastructure can economically secure a reliable energy supply in 2030? And what measures must the government take so that this system infrastructure can prevail on the market? Scientists at the Research Center for Energy Economics (FfE) are trying to get to the bottom of these questions with an ongoing study. The results are now available.
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