Energiewende: Integrating renewable energies

(Nanowerk News) The transformation of the energy system in Germany is a long-term challenge facing society. A number of political and economic aspects have to be considered. The central technical challenge consists in extending the existing energy system such that all energy sources can be integrated and transmitted reliably. The new research program SCI of the Helmholtz Association is coordinated by the KIT and aims at developing the technologies required for this purpose. The budget for the project period of five years totals about EUR 310 million.
“The transformation of the German energy system, called Energiewende, is one of the most challenging tasks facing our society. It is required to establish a viable energy system taking into consideration all societal, economic, and political aspects. We make a central contribution to this task,” says Professor Holger Hanselka, President of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Vice-President Research Field Energy of the Helmholtz Association. “To close the gaps in research relating to energy storage systems and grid technologies, the SCI program now pools our competencies and experience.”
“Power supply based on renewable energies requires three important technical solutions,” emphasizes Professor Mathias Noe, KIT, scientific spokesperson of the SCI research program. “Adequate energy storage systems to bridge fluctuations, efficient infrastructures to manage energy distribution, and a cross-sector grid to increase the flexibility, efficiency, and profitability of energy systems.” These requirements are addressed by the newly conceived research program SCI “Storage and Cross-Linked Infrastructures”. It focuses on studying technical options for fast implementation, sustainable production, high efficiency, and secure and reliable system integration.
solar power storage park
Thanks to modern battery and information technologies, solar power produced by the KIT solar power storage park is reliably fed into the grid. (Photo: Markus Breig, KIT)
The SCI research program concentrates on six topics: Batteries and Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems, Electrolysis and Hydrogen, Synthetic Hydrocarbons, Fuel Cells, Thermal Energy Storage Systems, and Grids and Integration of Storage Systems.
Partners of five Helmholtz Centers conduct research under SCI: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).
Examples of Previous Research Activities of the Partners
Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems
Activities of the centers KIT, FZJ, DLR, HZB, and HZDR cover the complete chain from the basic material to the complete battery system. This includes modeling, material and cell characterization, as well as methods in operation, electrode coating and cell production, battery and thermal management, as well as system integration, e.g. at KIT’s solar power storage park. In-depth materials research is the basis of cost-efficient large-format battery cells of enhanced specific energy and power density and improved reliability and safety.
Electrolysis and Hydrogen
Safe and efficient use of hydrogen as an energy carrier requires studies of the construction, complexity, and dynamics of innovative systems. The Helmholtz centers DLR, FZJ, and KIT contribute major and most comprehensive expertise relating to electrolysis technology and hydrogen safety in Germany. The Hydrogen Test Center (HYKA) of KIT, for instance, is a unique facility for the execution of hydrogen safety experiments on the industrial scale.
Fuel Cells
Research of FZJ and DLR is aimed at reaching an application-specific service life of fuel cells. For the fuel cell types SOFC and DMFC, service lives suited for commercial application were achieved by the use of functionally optimized materials and industrially relevant production processes. As regards PEMFC, studies focus on reducing the noble metal content of the cells.
Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Thermochemical storage of heat on a temperature level of 500°C in the order of 10 kW was demonstrated with slacked lime for the first time. The innovative thermal energy storage systems developed by the DLR for this purpose combine the potential of very high storage densities with an excellent cost efficiency.
Grids and Integration of Storage Systems
The gigantic changes associated with the Energiewende require new, distributed, and autonomous grid structures as well as an efficient integration of heterogeneous energy storage systems. Studies are to cover new technologies, such as superconducting cables or hydrogen pipelines, as well. The Energy Lab 2.0, an integrated technology and system platform of KIT, DLR, and FZJ, focuses on investigations and experimental tests of new approaches and high-performance tools for the stabilization of power grids in the future (smart energy system).
Synthetic Hydrocarbons
Power-to-gas technologies allow for the production of sustainable fuels of high energy density from excessive renewable energies. To develop appropriate technologies for storing hydrogen from renewable energies for decentralized use, the KIT studies novel process concepts, system components, and catalysts for highly dynamic operation in the area of synthetic hydrocarbons. Work is aimed at developing modular and flexible systems for decentralized use.
Source: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology