Energy system 2050: Solutions for the energy transition

Date:
October 16, 2020
Source:
Karlsruher Institut fu"r Technologie (KIT)
Summary:
To contribute to global climate protection, Germany has to rapidly
and comprehensively minimize the use of fossil energy sources and
to transform the energy system accordingly.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
To contribute to global climate protection, Germany has to rapidly
and comprehensively minimize the use of fossil energy sources and to
transform the energy system accordingly. The Helmholtz Association's
research initiative "Energy System 2050" has studied how and by which
means this can be achieved.

One of the partners is Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). At the
final conference in Berlin, scientists of the participating research
centers presented their results.


========================================================================== Having decided to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, Germany as an industrialized country is facing a tremendous challenge: Organizing
a comprehensive and sustainable transformation of the energy system
while ensuring stable energy supply for our everyday life, for
industry, and for the operation of central communication and transport infrastructures. Within the framework of the research initiative "Energy
System 2050" (ES2050), scientists of the Helmholtz Association have
developed concrete strategies and technical approaches to both improving climate protection and enhancing supply security.

These have already been picked up by politics and industry.

"Climate-friendly transformation of the energy system requires adequate technologies and clear systemic solutions. Within 'Energy System 2050,'
we have not only succeeded in developing them. We have also tested them
in real operation and elaborated flexible strategies for their use,"
says Professor Holger Hanselka, coordinator of the research initiative, Research Field Coordinator Energy of the Helmholtz Association, and
President of KIT. "Our research initiative pools the competencies
of eight research centers to make the energy transition a success."
Professor Otmar D. Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association, says: "Local, national, and international energy systems have to be switched
to renewable energy sources as quickly as possible. This not only is an important step to cope with climate change and increasing degradation
of the environment.

With the help of regenerative energy systems, we can also produce energy
at low costs without being dependent on imports. The 'Energy System 2050' initiative clearly shows which fundamental contributions can be made by
the Helmholtz Association in line with its mission to conduct cutting-edge research for solving grand challenges facing society." Strategies, Technologies, and Open-source Tools for the Energy Transition The
research initiative was launched in 2015 to make a relevant and forward- looking contribution to the transformation of the energy system. 170
scientists conducted research in teams that focused on a piece of the
energy transition puzzle each. Based on a systemic analysis of the
German energy supply system, they developed economically efficient
and climate-friendly transformation paths until 2050. This work was complemented by research into the architecture and security of the future
power grid and integration of hydrogen and biogenic energy sources in
the energy system. Moreover, power grid components, such as redox flow
storage systems, biogas facilities, or gas turbines for the reconversion
of synthesis gas and biogas were subjects of studies. Researchers tested
the technologies in detail and systemically analyzed their interaction.

As a result, the best "team players" for sector coupling were found,
including technologies to combine heat and power supply. In addition, lifecycle-oriented sustainability analyses were made. Apart from costs
and CO2 emissions, such analyses consider other ecological and social
factors when producing fuel from biogenic residues, for instance.

To carry out dynamic experiments on the system level, the researchers of
ES2050 established a large-scale network of research infrastructures,
including the Energy Lab 2.0 on the campus of KIT and the Living
Lab Energy Campus of Forschungszentrum Ju"lich (FZJ). These detailed
models of the energy system have meanwhile been equipped with own grid infrastructures and power-to- x facilities, residential buildings, and transport system components. The physical models are closely interlinked
with virtual structures for the smart extension of the energy system. With
the help of "digital twins," it is possible to integrate system components
in experiments, although they do not yet exist -- for instance, the future hydrogen infrastructure. The research initiative understands its modeling tools, datasets, and benchmarks as parts of an open ecosystem and makes
them available as open sources. This "toolkit for the energy transition"
is used by large transmission grid operators already.

Sustainable Contribution to the Energy Transition It is still a long
way to go to climate neutrality in the energy sector, but change has
started: In 2019, for instance, the share of renewable energy sources
in gross power consumption was 42.1 percent, in the year before 37.8
percent, according to the Federal Environment Agency. The results of the research initiative "Energy System 2050" can enhance this dynamic trend
and extend it to cover the housing, transport, and industry sectors. The research initiative "Energy System 2050" was launched by the research
field Energy of the Helmholtz Association. The partners are the KIT,
the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Forschungszentrum Ju"lich (FZJ),
the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (GFZ), the Helmholtz Centre Berlin (HZB),
the Helmholtz Centre Dresden- Rossendorf (HZDR), the Max Planck Institute
for Plasma Physics (IPP - - associated), and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ).


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Karlsruher_Institut_fu"r_Technologie_(KIT). Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


==========================================================================


Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201016100918.htm

--- up 7 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 50 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)