Energy turnaround

Abstract2 The abandonment of nuclear power and new focus on renewable energy sources represents a fundamental change in the structure of Germany’s electricity supply. In the wake of this change in energy policy (which is widely referred to as an energy turnaround), prices started to rise immediately and further increases are to be expected in the years ahead. For the manufacturing sector, this cost burden has been mitigated by exempting energy-intensive sectors from additional costs. However, this causes high levels of uncertainty for large electricity consumers as their current exceptional status may be called into question at some point in the future. Moreover, the price and cost effects of the German energy policy are not only restricted to energy-intensive enterprises. The metal production, parts of the chemical industry and other industries closely linked to electricity consumers in a complex value chain face higher price and cost risks, as do large segments of the manufacturing sector, which work closely with energy-intensive companies. These dense networks are critical in the joint development of innovations, one of the German industry’s main competitive advantages. This strength of the German economy may turn into a risk if the future of electricity-intensive industries is hampered by rising national energy prices. A potential relocation of energy-intensive companies to other countries would also weaken the competitiveness of other areas of German industry. Such risks need to be compared with new market opportunities provided by the energy turnaround. The industry seeks those opportunities especially in renewable energies and techniques for improving energy efficiency.

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Nachhaltige Waldentwicklung – Herausforderungen aus Sicht des Bundes (Essay)

Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen ◽

10.3188/szf.2013.0216 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 164 (8) ◽

pp. 216-219

Author(s):

Bruno Röösli ◽

Daniel Landolt-Parolini

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Structural Change ◽

Population Growth ◽

Financial Incentives ◽

Decision Aids ◽

Future Generations ◽

Forest Development ◽

Energy Turnaround ◽

Change Climate ◽

Sustainable Forest Development

Sustainable forest development – challenges from the perspective of the federal authorities (essay) Economic structural change, climate change, the energy “turnaround” and rampant population growth are all megatrends that influence forest development directly or indirectly. In this essay, the authors investigate the question as to the challenges presented by the constitutional mandate to “ensure sustainable forest development” and how the federal authorities aim to meet them. Together with the cantons, the federal authorities will deploy a mix of instruments in the future (e.g. financial incentives, regulations, development of decision aids, etc.), as they did before. However, some instruments need specific development so that the forest can fulfill its wide-ranging functions for future generations and in the context of changing conditions.

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Quantum Leap on the Way to the Energy Turnaround with Fuel Cells: Super-Thin Films of Graphite Bipolar Plates: Thin, Flexible and Highly Conductive

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.1046.89 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1046 ◽

pp. 89-93

Author(s):

Thorsten Hickmann ◽

Thorsten Derieth

Keyword(s):

Thin Films ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Matrix Material ◽

Cell System ◽

Polymer Materials ◽

Bipolar Plates ◽

Phenolic Resins ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

Quantum Leap ◽

Energy Turnaround

Efficient bipolar plates are needed to store electricity from renewable energies. Here the focus is concentrating on graphite-compound-Bipolar plates, which are one of the most used components in a Fuel Cell Stack system. Among other things, polypropylene is a suitable matrix material, but other polymer materials such as PPS and PVDF and phenolic resins can also be considered. However, for a correspondingly high conductivity in the fuel cell system, the plastic must be filled with up to more than 80 % graphite. To ensure that the compound is not brittle afterwards and is as easy to process as possible, an impact modify cation was further developed that makes it possible to produce thin films.

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"Infrastructure linking for E-Mobility – approach to integrative traffic and energy network planning"

Proceedings of the 6th International Workshop on Simulation for Energy, Sustainable Development & Environment (SESDE 2018) ◽

10.46354/i3m.2018.sesde.006 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Niels Schmidtke ◽

David Weigert ◽

Fabian Behrendt

Keyword(s):

Electric Vehicles ◽

Planning Process ◽

Research Field ◽

Transport Infrastructure ◽

Transport Sector ◽

Charging Infrastructure ◽

Energy Turnaround ◽

Charging Stations ◽

Simulation Systems ◽

Energy Network

"This paper gives an introduction to the strategic research field of the cross-infrastructural planning process and the system operation for charging stations from the traffic and energy network view. In the course of the energy turnaround in Germany (grid and plant expansion, liberalization) as well as changes in the transport sector (increasing traffic volume vs. increasing loss of transport infrastructure [Radke 2017; Daehre 2012]) complex cross-infrastructure solutions and tools (simulation systems) will be needed in order to ensure the technical reliability as well as the economic and ecological orientation of these systems. Based on the current stock of charging points and the forecasted total demand, there is a need for the comprehensive construction of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. This creates user acceptance and lowers the barriers to electric vehicles in the private and commercial sectors."

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Predictive Control of District Heating System Using Multi-Stage Nonlinear Approximation with Selective Memory

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13246714 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (24) ◽

pp. 6714

Author(s):

Marius Reich ◽

Jonas Gottschald ◽

Philipp Riegebauer ◽

Mario Adam

Keyword(s):

Control System ◽

Nonlinear Approximation ◽

Local Heating ◽

District Heating ◽

Optimal Operation ◽

Process Data ◽

District Heating System ◽

Multi Stage ◽

Operational Optimization ◽

Energy Turnaround

Innovative heating networks with a hybrid generation park can make an important contribution to the energy turnaround. By integrating heat from several heat generators and a high proportion of different renewable energies, they also have a high degree of flexibility. Optimizing the operation of such systems is a complex task due to the diversity of producers, the use of storage systems with stratified charging and continuous changes in system properties. Besides, it is necessary to consider conflicting economic and ecological targets. Operational optimization of district heating systems using nonlinear models is underrepresented in practice and science. Considering ecological and economic targets, the current work focuses on developing a procedure for an operational optimization, which ensures a continuous optimal operation of the heat and power generators of a local heating network. The approach presented uses machine learning methods, including Gaussian process regressions for a repeatedly updated multi-stage approximation of the nonlinear system behavior. For the formation of the approximation models, a selection algorithm is utilized to choose only essential and current process data. By using a global optimization algorithm, a multi-objective optimal setting of the controllable variables of the system can be found in feasible time. Implemented in the control system of a dynamic simulation, significant improvements of the target variables (operating costs, CO2 emissions) can be seen in comparison with a standard control system. The investigation of different scenarios illustrates the high relevance of the presented methodology.

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Contribution of Body Lightweight Design to the Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicles

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.907.329 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 907 ◽

pp. 329-347 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Günther Schuh ◽

Kai Korthals ◽

Jens Arnoscht

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Energy Storage ◽

Product Life Cycle ◽

Raw Materials ◽

The Body ◽

Raw Material ◽

Vehicle Body ◽

Material Body ◽

Energy Turnaround ◽

Use Phase

In today's society the continuously increasing consumption of raw materials and the associated impacts on the ecosystem tend to be a frequently discussed topic. Especially automobile companies are faced to develop new driving concepts due to the emerging energy turnaround. Usually the components of the conventional drive are replaced by an electric engine including the required energy storage. Without structural changes regarding the chassis this procedure causes an increase in the vehicle ́s weight (Conversion Design). Therefore a new approach is to integrate the battery as a load-bearing member in the vehicle structure and additionally use a weight-optimized multi-material design of the body (Purpose Design). By savings of 25% of the weight of a compact-class vehicle body, a resource-saving and energy-efficient design of the entire vehicle can be achieved. Certainly the innovative multi-material construction contributes significantly to reduce the total energy consumption of the vehicle during the use phase. Based on a Lifecycle-Assessment (LCA) the environmental sustainability of the Purpose Design will be evaluated and compared to the approach of the Conversion Design. In addition to the weight savings of the multi-material body secondary weight reductions regarding the energy storage will be taken into account. The aim is to assess the ecological advantages of the lightweight solution throughout the entire product life cycle comprising the extraction of raw materials, production of the components, use of the product and end of life including the recycling of components. However, these investigations will be carried out for the modified chassis and the lightweight constructed multi-material body. Hence, the processes of the individual life cycle phases will be collected, inventorial analysis carried out and impact assessments performed. According to the LCA it will be tested, if the additional expenses in raw material extraction, production and recycling of the lightweight body justify the expected ecological advantage in the use phase. A final overall analysis will provide information on the actual efficiency and sustainability of the Purpose Design. Due to the parallel creation of the LCA data during the development process the LCA results furthermore serve to detect and monitor significant shortcomings on component and assembly level.

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System-Supporting Operation of Solid-Oxide Electrolysis Stacks

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14030544 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 544

Author(s):

Dominik Schäfer ◽

Tomke Janßen ◽

Qingping Fang ◽

Frank Merten ◽

Ludger Blum

Keyword(s):

Energy System ◽

Solid Oxide ◽

System Transformation ◽

Load Profile ◽

Flexible System ◽

Energy Turnaround ◽

Solid Oxide Electrolysis ◽

Operating Strategies ◽

Transition Times ◽

The Impact

Flexible, system-oriented operating strategies are becoming increasingly important in terms of achieving a climate-neutral energy system transformation. Solid-oxide electrolysis (SOEC) can play an important role in the production of green synthesis gas from renewable energy in the future. Therefore, it is important to investigate the extent to which SOEC can be used flexibly and which feedback effects and constraints must be taken into account. In this study, we derived a specific load profile from an energy turnaround scenario that supports the energy system. SOEC short-stacks were operated and we investigated the impact that the load profile has on electrical stack performance and stack degradation as well as the product gas composition by means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The stacks could follow the grid-related requirement profiles of secondary control power and minute reserves very well with transition times of less than two minutes per 25% of relative power. Only short-term disturbances of the H2/CO ratio were observed during transitions due to the adjustment of feed gases. No elevated degradation effects resulting from flexible operation were apparent over 1300 h, although other causes of degradation were present.

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Digitalization in Buildings and Smart Cities on the Way to 6G

Wireless Personal Communications ◽

10.1007/s11277-021-09069-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Walter Konhäuser

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Energy Management ◽

Communication Networks ◽

Mobile Communications ◽

Energy Production ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Local Energy ◽

Management Concepts ◽

Energy Turnaround ◽

Digital Components

AbstractThe energy turnaround created a high volatility in the energy production based on renewable energy. To integrate renewable energy economically in buildings and smart cities an additional concept of energy storage and energy supply based on energy management concepts must be claimed. The political views have changed during the last years and energy efficiency in buildings is seen important because 35% of greenhouse gas is produced by the final energy consumption. The deployment of local energy production concepts is an important step to energy turnaround. To generate and distribute energy effectively in buildings, digital components such as sensors, actuators, meters, and energy management systems must be installed in the buildings and the digital components must be able to communicate via communication networks. The paper describes systems for local energy generation, necessary communication networks for buildings and smart cities and digitization applications in industrial buildings. As an example of energy management, the Oktett64 system is presented, which is based on Enterprise IT technology and has implemented AI and blockchain technology. Digitalization with platforms such as Oktett64 are based on technologies that are superior to today's often commercially available Programmable Logic Controllers. The article also shows how the future mobile communications standards 5G beyond and 6G can offer special solutions for the digitization of buildings in their edge clouds.

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Human-Centered Design in the Energy Turnaround Project Enera – It Pays to Go Off the Beaten Track!

i-com ◽

10.1515/icom-2019-0005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 93-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jutta Fortmann ◽

Frank Glanert

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Public Relations ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sources ◽

User Needs ◽

Human Centered Design ◽

Energy Turnaround ◽

Beaten Track ◽

Residential House ◽

Energy Network

Abstract In this article, we give insights into the development of an ‘interface of energy’, which is developed as part of the energy turnaround project ‘enera’. This interface shall allow communication between the human and the future energy network which will be dominated by renewable energy sources and on-site power generation. We show how we applied Human-Centered Design methods to address the challenge of designing a user interface for an infrastructure that is still in development. Further, we show how this approach was successfully combined with public relations, such as feedback sessions on prototypes as part of an open Barcamp. We give insights into interviews, profiles, personas, public operations, user needs, prototyping and testing. As a special feature we conducted prototyping and prototype testing workshops in a residential house within the project region. These turned out to be very successful for many reasons, e. g., in that the natural environment served as a creative stimulator. Besides, the workshops had a lasting effect on the participants, who were members of the project as well as volunteers living in the project region.

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