Funding organisation: Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren e.V.
Co-operation: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Verkehrsforschung Berlin, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ) Leipzig, Universität Stuttgart ZIRIUS, Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung Mannheim, Universität Magdeburg, FU Berlin
Project Duration: September 2011 bis August 2016
Contact: Michael Nast, Yvonne Scholz, Thomas Pregger, Tobias Naegler, Uwe Pfenning
Together with the Helmholtz partners KIT, FZJ and UFZ the Helmholtz Alliance "Future infrastructures for meeting energy demands - Towards sustainability and social compatibility (ENERGY-TRANS)" was acquired. In this scheme the development of Germany's energy supply is considered as a socio-technical system. During a period of 5 years technical aspects of the “Energiewende” will be investigated in close connection with the related social processes. Additional expertise in the area of social sciences was reached by integration of the University of Stuttgart (ZIRN), University of Magdeburg (Institute of Psychology), FU Berlin (Environmental Policy Research Centre) and ZEW Mannheim. The entire scheme will be ad-ministered by KIT and the University of Stuttgart. The scheme consists of approximately 20 individual projects, of which the largest "Integrated Scenario Building" is coordinated by the Systems Analysis Department of the DLR. Unlike the scenarios previously developed by STB not only an optimum for the technical and economic development is aimed for, but also the sociological boundary conditions will be taken into account. The most prominent examples of the new dimension of research are the current problems in construction, approval and acceptance of high-voltage power lines that will be necessary for greater use of renewable energies. The sociological dimension is also of importance for the development of many other technical infrastructures. This includes consideration of whether the focus of future transport infrastructure should be on biofuels, hydrogen (e.g. fuel cells) or electric vehicles. The research on this project will be carried out jointly with the University of Stuttgart and the FZJ.
Within the HGF Alliance STB is engaged in four other projects addressing the following topics:
• Optimization of the spatial distribution of stores and of strategies for their loading and unloading
• The impact of the perhaps unique German path with respect to the “Energiewende” on the power exchange with neighbouring countries, including the related cash flows
• Consolidation of existing agent models for the electricity market
• Investigations of instruments to promote renewable energies.