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Center for Energy
The experts at the Center for Energy are researching the energy system of the future and developing technologies and systems for a secure, clean, and sustainable energy supply.
The energy sector is undergoing a drastic process of change. The development of technologies and solutions for the transformation of the energy system to a sustainable energy supply are highly relevant for research both nationally and internationally, as well as for the implementation by industrial companies and infrastructure operators. The increased integration of renewable energies, the decarbonisation of industrial processes and plants as well as innovative technologies and solutions for resilient cities and urban transformation are the driving forces and at the same time the challenges for the key research questions. Some 200 experts with a diverse background in terms of nationalities and educational skills work at the Center for Energy. The interdisciplinary team carries out research and development in the fields of energy infrastructure, industrial energy systems and cities and the built environment. The strengths of the Center are based on its high level of research and application expertise: Many years of experience, scientific excellence and worldwide networking of experts as well as the high-quality laboratory infrastructure create clear competitive advantages for our clients and partners such as industrial companies, energy suppliers, technology providers, cities and municipalities as well as research institutions. High quality lab infrastructure: SmartEST and City Intelligence Lab With the SmartEST lab, AIT has at its disposal a development platform for smart grid technologies and system architectures that is unique in Europe. Here, solutions and products from industrial partners are tested, and AIT innovations which are transferred to the market later are developed here as well. Electrical energy storage systems and their current and future tasks within the energy system are currently ranking among the technologies in particular demand. The AIT Center for Energy supports system operators and manufacturers in practically all significant demonstration projects for bulk storage systems using hardware in the loop (HIL) methods. Among the technologies developed, AIT’s SmartGrid Converter forms the core of the power electronics systems sector.
In fall 2019 the City Intelligence Lab opened at AIT as an international showpiece lab for the urban planning practice of the future. The lab is an interactive platform for exploring new forms and technologies for urban planning practice and follows the approach of a co-creative development – joint creation of new knowledge. It enables the integration of the user perspective into urban planning by means of digital technologies. Key digital technologies such as Augmented Reality and AI are used to create complex simulations and parametric designs. For example, scenarios such as climatic changes in urban districts can be realistically simulated and diverse planning scenarios can be created.
Decarbonisation and digitisation The AIT Center for Energy researches and develops novel technologies and system services to make industrial processes and facilities more sustainable and their energy supply more efficient and climate-friendly. Examples include digital technologies that make it possible to optimise processes, the switch to renewable or low-CO2 energy sources, the use of industrial heat pumps and the use of energy storage and active load management. The AIT Center for Energy is also a leading member of the model region NEFI – New Energy for Industry. NEFI is a unique innovation network consisting of numerous companies, research partners and public institutions from all over Austria which works on solutions for the decarbonisation of Austrian industry in the form of demonstration projects and accompanying research activities. NEFI is part of the energy flagship regions of the Climate and Energy Fund.
Wolfgang Hribernik, Head of Center for Energy
Research focus Integrated Energy Systems The new Integrated Energy Systems (IES) Competence Unit at the Center for Energy is concerned with issues relating to the transformation of the energy system and the integration of renewable energy sources into the existing electricity and heating system. The interaction of technical possibilities with energy management aspects in particular will contribute significantly to the economically successful operation of a sustainable energy system. The core competencies of Integrated Energy Systems lie in techno-economic analyses, which are carried out both across states and for portfolios, energy communities and regions. One major focus here is on the use of flexibility in the electricity system and the interaction between different domains such as electricity and gas (sector coupling). Moreover, the transformation and digitisation of the energy system requires not only technological solutions, but also the introduction of new regulatory framework conditions and business models. The IES therefore evaluates very promising business models and their impact on energy markets and analyses the regulatory framework conditions.
