The research focus of the department is the grid-bound energy industry and the relevant players who are active within it. The electricity industry, in consideration of existing and possible future interactions with the heating and transport sectors, forms the focus of the scientific work. This stretches from energy system analysis and design to the development of business models.
Within the electricity industry, the department deals with
- energy industry-specific and regulatory frameworks,
- the transformation of the system, with decentralised and fluctuating generation as the central pillar,
- load options (DSM, storage systems, European integrated grid) and
- their respective players as well as
- the reviewing and further development of infrastructural approaches for sustainable energy systems
Due to the cross-sector approach,
- electric heating,
- combined heat and power (CHP) and
- industrial waste heat
also represent key topics in the scientific work within the heat economy. The scientific issues within the context of electric heating and CHP concern the effects of additional electricity demand arising from this and the impacts on the load pattern and also, where applicable, its potential influence. Within the context of industrial waste heat, its potential and possible usage – depending on the temperature and volume flow, also the potential generation of electricity – are investigated and options are explored for its utilisation.
Electromobility forms the third scientific pillar of the department Energy Markets . The research topics here concern the framework conditions for the usage of electromobility – particularly in regard to individual transport – the players involved as well as the effects on infrastructure.
The department has the following instruments to scientifically study scenarios:
- Electricity market model to illustrate day-ahead trading: This model determines the respective hourly allocation of electricity generation and consumption within the framework of a market simulation. Unlike most other models, it is not an optimisation model using a given power plant in order to optimally resolve the defined target function. Rather, the bidding behaviour of the individual players is modelled, which does not necessarily lead to the optimal utilisation of a power plant, but instead to a level of utilisation based on the expected market-based reactions.
- Load model for electric vehicles: The driving behaviour from the “Mobility in Germany” survey is recreated by the user types defined there (commuters, school pupils, pensioners, etc.) using their vehicle within a defined year of consideration. Depending on the load scenarios (e.g. at home after work, during worktime, quick charging when battery is low, etc.) and the user type, a load arises which needs to be balanced by a corresponding generation capacity. This demand load can be generated with to-the-hour accuracy over a freely-definable period, while taking working days and holidays into account, and be imported into the electricity market model.