➀ The Fraunhofer CINES excellence cluster provides recommendations for achieving a climate-neutral industry in Germany by 2045;
➁ Emphasis on the role of electricity and hydrogen as central energy carriers and the importance of energy infrastructure development;
➂ Discusses the challenges and opportunities for cost-effective and competitive energy systems, including the development of hydrogen infrastructure and electricity pricing.
➀ The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is establishing a unique research environment at the High Power Grid Lab (HPGL) to study the behavior of innovative power grid components under realistic conditions.
➁ The test platform is designed to mimic real power grids and will focus on low and medium voltage networks for regional electricity distribution.
➂ The HPGL is scheduled to be operational by 2030 and is being funded with 32.8 million euros from the Helmholtz Association's strategic expansion investment fund.
➀ The PCIM Europe Expo & Conference in Nuremberg, Germany, is the premier international event for power electronics, intelligent motion, renewable energy, and energy management.
➁ As the leading forum for industry and academia, PCIM Europe drives innovation across the entire value chain.
➂ It has been the established home of power electronics for decades.
➀ Dr. Kathrin Goldammer has been appointed as an honorary professor at HTW Berlin, Faculty 1 Engineering – Energy and Information.
➁ She brings extensive experience in the energy industry and expertise in applied energy research to the renewable energy programs.
➂ Goldammer's professorship focuses on the energy and electricity industry, energy policy, and the social framework for the use of renewable energy.
Dr. Kathrin Goldammer has been appointed as a Honorary Professor at HTW Berlin, starting from the summer semester of 2025. She brings extensive practical experience in the energy sector and expertise in applied energy research to the Bachelor and Master programs in Renewable Energies.
Goldammer has been teaching at HTW Berlin as a lecturer since 2023, focusing on the economic aspects of renewable energy utilization.
Her teaching focuses on energy and electricity economics, energy policy, and social frameworks for the use of renewable energies. Goldammer emphasizes problem-based learning, using practical cases and specific questions related to energy economics to teach her students.
➀ Swansea University's Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) is partnering with the SAFEPOWER project to develop efficient MVDC converters.
➁ The project aims to improve energy systems by creating small, eco-friendly MVDC converters for applications such as offshore wind, solar farms, electric vehicle charging, and HPC data centres.
➂ CISM will demonstrate next-generation power chips based on wide bandgap materials like silicon carbide and gallium oxide, aiming to transfer the learning into high-volume manufacturing.
➀ The European power supply system is undergoing a transformation due to the energy transition, with more and more facilities feeding into the decentralized power grid through power electronics.
➁ The InterSCADA project aims to develop a modular SCADA platform that will help grid operators across Europe maintain system stability in increasingly hybrid AC/DC power grids.
➂ The platform is designed to be flexible and adaptable to dynamic network situations, and will be tested in four European countries to ensure its replicability in diverse geographical environments and regulatory and technical requirements.
➀ The Baelz Foundation has for the 22nd time awarded outstanding Bachelor's and Master's theses;
➁ Johannes Spangler, a graduate of HBC, received the second prize in the Master's category;
➂ Spangler's thesis focused on the analysis and evaluation of refrigeration systems using new software tools.
The formal inauguration of Prof. Dr. Martin Braun as the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE in Kassel was held recently. The event was accompanied by a symposium on 'Sustainable and Smart Energy Systems,' which addressed the central challenges and future perspectives of the energy transition. The focus was on the current key themes of the Institute: resilience, digitalization, and sector coupling.
In his speech, Timon Gremmels, the Minister for Science, Research, Art, and Culture of Hesse, welcomed Prof. Braun to his new position and emphasized the importance of the work of Fraunhofer IEE in the transition to renewable energies. Prof. Constantin Häfner, the Board Member for Research and Transfer at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, also praised Prof. Braun's contributions to the practical application of research results in the economy.
Prof. Martin Braun, who has significantly shaped the development of Fraunhofer IEE for many years, views the leadership of the Institute as a central responsibility. The Institute aims to develop innovative solutions for the design and automation of energy plants and the entire energy system, with a particular emphasis on close collaboration with partners from science and industry.
➀ Researchers at IIT Dharwad have developed bifacial perovskite solar cells with enhanced efficiency and durability.
➁ The cells incorporate a hybrid three-layer transparent electrode (NiO/Ag/NiO) that allows for high power conversion efficiencies from both sides.
➂ These solar cells exhibit strong near-infrared transparency and maintain 80% of their initial efficiency after over 1,000 hours of operation without encapsulation.
➀ Superconductors play a crucial role in energy harvesting, processing, and storage systems across various applications;
➁ Eaton Electronics, a leading supplier, provides a diverse range of supercapacitors from miniature components to larger modules for commercial vehicles;
➂ These components are essential for renewable energy, IoT devices, and more.
➀ The topic of heating, renovation, and energy has caused dissatisfaction and resignation in society;
➁ Professor Dr. Michael Schaub discusses the current situation and the use of heat pumps;
➂ The cost of converting to a Propan heat pump and the challenges of energy efficiency are addressed.
➀ Infineon expands its SiC collaboration in the automotive sector with Forvia Hella's next-generation 800V DC/DC charging solution.
➁ Mitsubishi Electric joins the EU's 'FLAGCHIP' project to develop new SiC power module technology for wind power generation systems.
➂ SiChuangzhi Technology's SiC modules enter commercial storage applications, improving efficiency.
➃ BMW and Porsche to release new SiC vehicles with significant energy savings and improved performance.
➄ Chinese Academy of Sciences' self-developed SiC devices pass aviation verification for space applications.
➅ Southern Grid and Fraunhofer iSE accelerate the development and application of SiC in power grid facilities.
➀ The floating energy community Schoonschip has connected to the energy and flexibility markets since January 2025.
➁ The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM's innovative solution enables the community to buy and sell electricity at optimal prices.
➂ The community uses battery storage for marketing on the imbalance market, increasing flexibility and reducing costs.
The Schoonschip community in the Netherlands, consisting of 30 floating houses with photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, and battery storage, has been connected to energy and flexibility markets since January. An innovative solution from the Fraunhofer Institute for Techno- and Economic Mathematics ITWM enables precise real-time forecasts for consumption, local production, and price optimization. This allows the community to trade electricity at optimal conditions on the Day-Ahead market. At the same time, a trader sells the 30 battery storage units on the Imbalance market, increasing flexibility and reducing energy costs for members.
The community is interconnected in a microgrid and also has access to the public power grid. The energy management system developed by Fraunhofer ITWM reduces peak grid consumption and thereby reduces grid usage fees. The researchers have enabled the community to connect to various markets, aiming to position it as a flexible virtual power plant capable of both supplying and absorbing energy.
They can take advantage of dynamic electricity prices on the Day-Ahead market and participate in the Imbalance market with their batteries. The vision is to make the technology accessible to private households and businesses, allowing them to participate in various energy and flexibility markets.
➀ The Fraunhofer IWES, UPC, eRoots Analytics, HAW Hamburg, and University of Malta have started the TenSyGrid project to develop a toolbox for evaluating the stability of power grids with high renewable energy content.
➁ The project aims to support grid operators in managing large-scale power grids fully powered by renewable energy.
➂ The toolbox will be compatible with existing commercial software packages and will use multilinear models to simulate power grid components.
➀ A European consortium initiates the DELYCIOUS research project to develop advanced diagnostic and monitoring tools for water electrolysers.
➁ The project aims to extend electrolyser lifespans and reduce operational costs in variable renewable energy sources.
➂ DELYCIOUS brings together leading institutions and industry players from five EU member states, focusing on three major electrolysis technologies.
➀ The DELYCIOUS project, coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, aims to develop advanced diagnostic and monitoring technologies for water electrolyzers.
➁ The project addresses key challenges in water electrolysis technology, focusing on extending the lifespan of electrolyzers and reducing operational costs in conjunction with volatile renewable energy sources.
➂ The project involves a consortium of eight European partners from five EU member states and is expected to contribute to the advancement of sustainable development goals, particularly in clean energy and industrial innovation.
➀ Researchers at UCLA have developed a method to transform a flat graphene sheet into a 3D structure resembling Astroturf, creating plastic supercapacitors.
➁ These new supercapacitors store and release energy by accumulating electrical charge on their surface, allowing for rapid charging and discharging.
➂ The new material has shown superior performance, including 100 times higher conductivity and four times greater electrochemically active surface area than commercial PEDOT products, leading to improved efficiency and durability.
➀ The Ruhr-University Bochum and Vonovia are developing a project called EMSiQ which aims to create a sustainable energy management system in an intelligent residential area using renewable energy sources.
➁ The project integrates solar power, heat pumps, and electric mobility solutions to reduce the pressure on public power grids and minimize costs for residents.
➂ The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection with around 2.9 million euros over four years.
