Flexible turbomachines for climate-neutral and resilient energy systems
Joint project FokusTurbo
Flexible turbomachines for climate-neutral and resilient energy systems
The transformation of the energy system places high demands on the energy supply of the future. The increasing share of renewable energies leads to greater fluctuations in electricity generation and requires high-performance energy storage and transmission technologies as well as flexible power plants. At the same time, the decarbonization of the heat supply, in particular, needs to be accelerated significantly.
Turbomachines plays a central role in this transformation process. It is used in power and heat applications, energy storage systems, heat pumps, and flexible power plants. At the same time, existing technologies must be adapted to new operating conditions and alternative energy carriers such as hydrogen and synthetic fuels.
The joint research project FokusTurbo addresses these challenges. Its objective is to develop and further advance high-performance, efficient, and reliable turbomachinery and plant components for the energy system of the future.
Focus of research
A focus of research lies in improving the efficiency, flexibility, and reliability of turbomachinery and its associated components. Increasing efficiency can reduce energy losses and, consequently, directly lower the CO₂ emissions of future plants. At the same time, high operational flexibility and long component lifetimes are becoming increasingly important due to the growing share of variable renewable energy sources in the energy system.
Turbomachines must therefore respond more frequently and dynamically to fluctuating generation and load conditions, placing greater demands on operational flexibility as well as on mechanical and thermal durability. Against this background, the objective is to improve the sustainability and economic viability of future plants through increased efficiency, enhanced operational flexibility, and extended component lifetime.
Another focus is on compressors for large-scale heat pumps. FokusTurbo is laying the technological foundations for the efficient and flexible provision of industrial process heat.
The flexibility of future energy systems is also a focus. Among other things, the project investigates the effects of dynamic operating modes on efficiency, service life and reliability.
Hydrogen for a flexible energy supply
Hydrogen and synthetic fuels produced from it can play an important role in storing renewable energy and stabilising the energy system. Hydrogen-powered gas turbines are a particular focus for flexible power generation.
FokusTurbo is investigating the efficient and low-emission combustion of hydrogen and synthetic fuels. A particular emphasis is also placed on developing suitable measurement technology for hydrogen-fired plants, in order to better understand the complex processes involved in combustion and to further develop the technologies in a targeted manner.
Contribution to the energy transition
Through its research, FokusTurbo addresses key challenges in the transformation of the energy system:
- Energy system: Development of efficient, reliable and flexible turbomachinery and plant components.
- Heat transition: Further development of compressors for large-scale heat pumps and climate-friendly refrigerants.
- Electricity transition: Improvement of turbomachinery for energy storage and flexible power station applications, as well as investigation of their service life under frequent load cycling.
- Hydrogen: Development of technologies for the efficient and low-emission use of hydrogen and synthetic fuels.
- Transfer: Transfer of research findings into industrial applications and the training of early-career researchers.
Work packages
FokusTurbo is divided into four thematic work packages. The focus is on the further development of turbomachines and its components for an efficient, flexible and climate-neutral energy system.
WP 1 – Energy System: efficient turbomachine components
High efficiency and robust component design are crucial to the performance of future energy systems. This work package investigates ways of further increasing the efficiency of turbomachine components and improving their operational reliability.
WP 2 – Heat Transition: heat humps for industry
Industrial heat pumps are a key component in the decarbonisation of the heating sector. This work package is dedicated to the further development of compressors for industrial heat pumps.
WP 3 – energy transition: flexibility, service life and storage
As the share of renewable energy sources increases, turbomachines must be able to respond flexibly to changing operating conditions. At the same time, the demands placed on the service life and operational reliability of components are rising.
WP 4 – hydrogen: fuel-flexible power generation
In future, hydrogen can make an important contribution to flexible power generation and to stabilising the energy system. This requires gas turbines that can utilise hydrogen safely, efficiently and with the lowest possible emissions.
Running Time
01.01.2026 - 30.06.2029
Funding
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE)
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Brandenburg University of Technology, Chair of Structural Mechanics and Vehicle Vibrational Technology |
DLR-Institute of Propulsion Technology |
DLR-Institute of Combustion Technology |
Everllence SE |
Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM |
Hochschule Düsseldorf, University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering |
Hochschule München, Department of Applied Sciences and Mechatronics |
Hochschule Trier, Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mechanical Engineering |
Helmut-Schmidt-University, Uni. der Bundeswehr Hamburg, Laboratory of Fluid Machinery |
MTU Aero Engines AG |
RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau, Chair for Scientific Computing |
RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Power Plant Technology, Steam and Gas Turbines |
RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Combustion Technology |
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG |
Ruhr-University Bochum, Chair of Thermal Turbomachinery and Aero Engines |
Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co KG |
University of Technology Berlin, Institute of Fluid Dynamics and Technical Acoustics (ISTA) |
University of Technology Clausthal, Institute of Tribology and Energy Conversion Machinery (ITR) |
University of Technology Darmstadt, Reactive Flows and Diagnostics |
University of Technology Darmstadt, Center for Structural Materials |
University of Technolgy Darmstadt, Simulation of Reactive Thermo-Fluid Systems |
University of Technology Dresden, Chair of Turbomachinery and Flight Propulsion |
University of Technology Munich, Associate Professorship of Thermo-Fluid Dynamics |
University Duisburg-Essen, Chair of Turbomachinery |
