Research Projects

Multi-family buildings offer largely untapped potential for energy savings and grid services in the US and in Europe. Against the backdrop of rapid electrification, the rise of heat pumps, and increasing regulatory pressure, the project "ABLM: Automated Building Load Modeling" project is developing physics-informed neural networks that can accurately predict the load flexibility of central consumers (heating, domestic hot water, cooling, e-mobility) with just a few input data. The hybrid approach overcomes the limitations of classic simulation and pure AI models and enables scalable, robust demand-side management. | Duration: 06/2025 - 06/2027

With the rapid expansion of renewable energies and the market ramp-up of electromobility, operators and users of private and semi-public charging infrastructure (LIS) are facing new challenges. This is precisely where the BALANCE innovation project comes in: The development of advanced analysis techniques and the use of IoT data from charging processes, decentralised consumers and generators enable intelligent forecasts. These create the basis for demand-based control of charging processes and home energy management systems (HEMS) - an important step towards grid stability, energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energies. | Duration: 05/2025 - 10/2026

Electrical storage systems are a central building block not only for a decentralized energy supply, but also for the energy transition. Yet especially in medium-sized industrial companies, which constitute the central pillar of the German economy, these systems have so far rarely been installed. The "DABESI" project (Data-driven Design and Operational Management of Decentralized Electric Storage Systems in Manufacturing SMEs) aims to optimize electricity consumption in SMEs from an operational point of view through the use of storage systems. | Duration: 12/2020 - 11/2023

The energy, transport and heating transition represents a considerable challenge for the electricity grids. According to current planning guidelines, the increased use of heat pumps and electric vehicles would require a massive expansion of the distribution grids. This would result in high costs and could slow down the transition to a CO2-neutral society. Grid operation platforms can use smart metering systems (iMSys) and control boxes to record grid conditions and reduce grid loads through targeted control interventions, incentivized by variable grid charges. If the grid load can be reduced through targeted incentives, this must be taken into account in grid planning in order to minimize grid expansion. | Duration: 01/2025 - 12/2028

In this project, we are using a new residential development in Harsefeld to investigate how an agent-based district energy management system (Quartiers EMS) can control residents' decentralised systems in such a way that both the residents' wishes and the requirements of the surrounding energy system are taken into account. | Duration: 12/2023 - 11/2026