Fraunhofer IBP and IWES as pioneers of the era of renewable energies

It is essential to accelerate the necessary transformation process towards a sustainable energy supply. Pioneers of this modification process are the Fraunhofer Institutes for Building Physics IBP and for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology IWES, which will present their research work on the occasion of ISES Solar World Congress 2011 in Kassel at their common booth from August 28 to September 1, 2011.

The challenge is to cover future energy needs in Germany without any restrictions, if possible, and simultaneously to observe climatic goals. The supporting pillars of this process are the increase in applying regenerative energies and extensive measures for energy efficiency. The use of fossil energy sources to generate power and heat must be minimized and power from nuclear plants must be replaced.

Thus, the most essential components for the future energy system are energy efficiency in building as well as the integration of renewable energies and electro-mobility. This can be achieved by means of plus energy houses as well as smart buildings and supply structures. Innovative network control systems, decentralized energy management and modern storage technologies allow an increase in the share of renewable power generation.

CO2 emissions are to be reduced by 80 % by 2050 in comparison to the level of 1990. The aim is consequent energy savings and the focus on low-emission regenerative energy sources. At the same time, energy efficiency in the field of buildings is playing a significant role. Almost 40 % of the energy used in buildings in industrialized countries is applied for heating, cooling and hot water generation as well as lighting. Old buildings are especially important. More than 12 Mio old buildings of the already existing buildings in Germany, which make up approx. 95 % of the end energy use, must be urgently renovated!

This kind of profound modification offers opportunities: The energy transsion requires the development of new and the further development of already existing technologies to generate, store and transport energy. Fraunhofer scientists work on sophisticated solutions and complex technologies to manage the modification of energy supply. Therefore, research and development work is done in the field of innovative components for minimally invasive renovation, i.e. the profound retrofitting of a building without any greater annoyances for the residents, and economic and ecological concepts for cities on their way to »Smart City« into a future of sustainable and environmentally conscious energy use! One of the great challenges of modern times is lead urban centers into an ecologically sustainable future. To design and construct buildings and to live in them in a way that the impact on the environment is minimized requires great efforts in the field of building technology.

Scientific developments of building physics such as the zeroemission or the plus energy house are the basis for effective efficiency in building. Energy needs and CO2 emissions can most effectively reduced in cities by a nationwide renovation of buildings and an environmentally compatible energy supply. Sustainability and energy efficiency are the basic requirements for buildings and are essential in solving energy problems.

The building of the future generates more energy than it consumes. It is flexible and multi-functional, equipped by smart ventilation and lighting systems, and is made of recycled materials. It was built by preserving resources with a high degree of quality and precision, and can be totally recycled after the end-of-life.

In order to increase the share of renewable electricity generation in energy supply systems, most innovative technologies are developed and tested. These reach from the multi-functional PV module which, as standardized building component, can provide electricity, thermal insulation, climatization and other applications, to the operating system for the smart house which allows optimal utilization of renewables by automatic management of loads, generators and electric vehicle charging, and finally new electric networks which actively use the potentials of controlled loads, distributed generators and storages to assure a save, cost-effective and sustainable energy supply.

Especially important for mass market roll-out are standardized interfaces within the energy system, such that building blocks from different manufacturers can be combined in future smart grid systems. This is researched and demonstrated in the new »SysTec«, a unique experimenting facility to the south of Kassel to be officially opened in September. Scientific testing of free-field and roof PV systems, batteries and charging technology of electric vehicles, and new electricity grids will be focused upon there. The combination with additional technology, e.g. electricity storage by renewable methane, paves the way for an energy supply system based on renewable energy.

The energy transmission will be completed and the energy landscape will be primarily based on renewable energy sources in Germany until 2050. Then, 80 % of the energy supply will be produced by renewable energy sources, which make up 9,4 % at present!

For any further information please contact:

Tekn. Dr. Dietrich Schmidt
Fraunhofer Institute for Building Bauphysik IBP
Tel.: +49 561 804 1871
dietrich.schmidt@ibp.fraunhofer.de
Dr.-Ing. Philipp Strauß
Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy Systems
Technology
Tel.: 49 561 7294 208
philipp.strauss@iwes.fraunhofer.de