Topic Efficient Energy Conversion and Use
Global energy demand is expected to further increase. Increase in the efficiency of energy chains, from the primary energy carrier to use, is an indispensable prerequisite for a just and sufficient supply of the population in particular in the developing countries and for reaching climate protection goals. The topic is aimed at analyzing the potentials of new technologies along the complete process chain using systems analysis methods, in particular life cycle assessment. Major research issues include:
- Evaluating the efficiency potential of individual technologies along the chain of “primary energy supply – conversion – use” and against the background of sustainable development, i.e. technical, ecological and economic aspects along the “life cycle” of a technology.
- Assessing the competition of goals, where competition of economic versus environmental issues and competition of energy consumption versus consumption of scarce resources are topics of overarching importance.
- Analysing systems integration to enhance understanding of mechanisms of interaction of single technologies with the energy system. Results obtained in the topic will be integrated in macroeconomic modelling of the topic "Transformation of Energy Systems", where special consideration is given to the methodological aspects for an evaluation of the sustainability of energy systems.
Research in the topic is based on various models (e.g. process chain models, material flow models, thermodynamic process models, learning-curve approach) and methods for assessing and optimizing technology (e.g., life cycle assessment – LCA, life cycle costing – LCC, exergo-environmental and exergo-economic analysis). Apart from insights into specific technologies, the objective of the topic is to further develop selected tailored methodological approaches and to develop interfaces with integrated socio-economic and social methods.
The topic "Efficient Energy Conversion and Use" deals with relevant technologies for the supply and use of energy in the following fields:
Future power plants for fossil or mixed fuels
Novel cross-cutting technologies for energy efficiency
Energy-efficient industrial processes
Technologies for energy efficiency in the building sector
