Closed Projects

ICE-2 had a share in a multitude of projects within the realms of energy systems research.

EverLoNG
The aim of EverLoNG is to demonstrate CO2 capture on two LNG-fuelled ships and thus accelerate the large-scale implementation of CO2 reduction technologies in the maritime sector in the short to medium term. Building on existing concept studies (TRL4) from previous projects, CO2 capture technology will be advanced to TRL7 through prototypes on ships in the EverLoNG project. The work of ICE-2 lies in the holistic ecological evaluation of the developed concepts as well as the validation of the CO2 reduction target of > 70% compared to conventional LNG-fuelled ships.
Project Webpage

JUST-GREEN AFRH2ICA
JUST-GREEN AFRH2ICA aims to develop a green hydrogen just transition roadmap based on the analysis of different African Union green hydrogen scenarios analysed at socio-economic-technical level as well as inspired by European Union Hydrogen and Just Transition Programmes. This will allow promoting a mutual benefit collaboration of the two continents towards the development of independent and collaborative hydrogen economies, and research and development ecosystem and value chains.
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HI-CAM Phase 2
Research contributing to Germany’s carbon neutrality goal needs to be transferred into actionable projects. One result of the first phase was a “pilot roadmap”, called the Netto-Null-2050 Wegweiser. This publication pools together all research results from Net-Zero-2050 by presenting a framework for action including specific suggestions on which activities are required to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality in Germany. The central part of this framework is a catalog of 127 recommendations for action.
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HyInnoSys
The objective of HyInnoSys is to provide inovation support measures for market preparation, networking and technology and knowledge transfer.
Project Webpage
Contact: Thomas Grube

HyUSPRe
The objective of HyUSPRe is to assess the technical feasibility, potential and risks of large-scale underground hydrogen storage in porous reservoirs in Europe. The techno-economic assessment, accompanied by environmental, social and regulatory perspectives for implementation, will allow for the development of a roadmap for hydrogen storage and indicate the role of large-scale hydrogen storage in achieving a greenhouse gas neutral energy system in EU by 2050.
Project Webpage
Contact: Theresa Klütz

MINFRA
The objective of the MINFRA research project is to analyze the effects of climate targets on the energy system itself and the underlying infrastructures that change as a result of external conditions. To this end, quantitative analyses using the TIMES and NESTOR energy system models will be carried out to investigate the necessary system transformations.
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Contact: Felix Kullmann

PIEG-Strom
DThe objective of PIEG-Strom is the planning and integration of energy storage systems in building energy systems by creating a VDI guideline series with a focus on electrical power storage systems.
Project Webpage
Contact: Noah Pflugradt

H2 ATLAS Africa
H2ATLAS-AFRICA project is the first-phase of a joint initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and African partners in the Sub-Saharan region (SADC and ECOWAS countries) to explore the potentials of green hydrogen production from the enormous renewable energy sources within the sub-regions.
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ETSAP
The objective of the IEA technology initiative ETSAP is to apply model generators to further develop energy system models. Model generators can be used to design energy technology scenarios and thus derive recommendations for action to save energy and reduce emissions.

LOD-GEOSS
The objective of LOD-GEOSS is the Linked Open Data (LOD) and use of the Global Earth Observation System (GEOSS) in energy system analysis.

BIC H2
The objective of BIC H2 is the procurement and deployment of a large fleet of fuel cell hybrid buses for public transport and establishment of a corresponding H2 infrastructure in the Cologne region.

Sustainability Assessment of Harmonised Hydrogen Energy Systems: Guidelines for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment and Prospective Benchmarking (SH2E), 2021 - 2024
Within the SH2E project internationally accepted guidelines for the sustainability assessment of fuel cells and hydrogen (FCH) are developed and demonstrated. More specifically, these guidelines will be a common ground addressing the environmental (LCA), economic (LCC) and social (S-LCA) Life Cycle Assessment of FCH systems to establish its Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). These guidelines aim to be globally accepted as the reference document for LCSA of FCH systems and set the basis for future standardisation, going beyond the update of past initiatives such as the EU’s FC-HyGuide project and the IEA Hydrogen Task 36 through their reformulation to deal with underdeveloped topics such as material criticality and prospective assessment.
One of the main tasks led by the ICE-2 is the review of material criticality indicators within LCA to define the most suitable material criticality indicator for FCH systems.

Energy Transition and Circular Economy (Innovationspool), 2021 - 2024
The Innovationspool project aims to enable the development of methods and models for the design and operation of a joint development of the future energy system and a Circular Economy. In a cross-disciplinary, -center and -program approach, decarbonization and flexibility options for energy-intensive pyrometallurgical recycling on the one hand and for the processing of mineral secondary raw materials on the other hand are investigated as examples. The ICE-2 analyzes and evaluates the Circular Economy. For this purpose, existing Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) models are extended and designed for selected processes.

iNEW 2.0, 2021 - 2024
For the successful transition of the Rhenish lignite mining area (Rheinisches Revier) to a future region for sustainable business, the regional energy-intensive industries need low-emission and sustainable solutions. The iNEW 2.0 project focuses on the research and development of novel and efficient electrolysis processes for application in sustainable power-to-X (P2X) value chains. In addition to the technical development, a comprehensive environmental assessment (Life Cycle Assessment LCA) of these value chains is carried out, so that the process developers receive feedback on possible restrictions (e.g. resource bottlenecks of critical materials, hot-spots with regard to energy and material consumption or emissions) at an early stage in order to develop alternatives during the process development. Within the project, ICE-2 focuses on the LCA of Power-to-Ammonia value chains with N2 electrolysis. Methodologically, the focus is on the prospective assessment of these chains.

Infrastructure Analysis H2MOBILITY
The goal of the study is to perform a detailed design analysis of the required infrastructure for supplying battery and fuel cell electric vehicles in Germany at multiple scales. The underlying question concerns the investments, costs, efficiencies and emissions for an infrastructure capable of supplying between one hundred thousand to several million vehicles with hydrogen or electricity. At present, both technologies are in the initial stage of their market development and are posed to take advantage of the unavoidable surplus electricity that characterizes renewable dominated energy systems. In any case, an effective infrastructure is required to make this energy available. However, at present the design of an applicable infrastructure is unclear. To illuminate this topic, the approach of the infrastructure analysis is transparent and the results of the analysis support a facts-based discussion which can simply be adapted to the growing level of experiences.

Transformation Strategies 2050
The aim of this study is to identify the most cost-effective CO2 reduction strategies which achieve Germany's climate protection goals by 2050. For this purpose, two CO2 reduction scenarios are analyzed. The first scenario is subject to a reduction target of 80% by 2050 (scenario 80), while the second scenario is subject to a reduction target of 95% (scenario 95). With the exceptions of the agreed nuclear phase-out and the forthcoming coal phase-out by 2038, no further targets of the Federal Government are adopted.

Researchers back to the secondary school - Renewable energy powered water-food-economy nexus for the sustainable livelihood at Dosso Region in Niger (RE-TO-DOSSO), 2020 - 2024
Socio-economic assessment of RE-TO-DOSSO
For the energy supply of the village NGonga in the Dosso region in Niger, a solar pilot plant (15-20kWp solar plant with battery storage) is installed in the secondary school, in the centre of the village. The school thus becomes the village's energy hub, making it possible to provide solar-powered electricity and water and also to irrigate the farmland. The aim of the study is to work out the socio-economic effects of the solar system and to investigate whether new economic use concepts can be generated for the village.
In order to determine the social added value for the stakeholders of the village (large farmers, small farmers, subsistence farmers, livestock farmers, nomads, entrepreneurs, small businessmen, social actors (rural commission of the Code Rural) in Niger), we use the Social Return on Investment (SROI) method to measure the social return of the investments made in NGonga. Ecological and social externalities are not considered in the traditional cost-benefit analysis.
The SROI is a norm-based method for measuring the social and environmental added value over and above the financial value of the investment, which is not considered in traditional cost-benefit analyses. On this basis, the effects of the pilot plant on the social groups of the village can be analysed and suggestions for improvement for the social distribution of the yields of the plant can be developed.

KSG2045 Study for Germany, 2021
Under the current Climate Protection Act, Germany is committed to becoming greenhouse gas neutral ("net zero") by 2045. Both the achievement of greenhouse gas neutrality and the shortening of the transformation period represent particular challenges compared to previous regulations. The question arises of methods and strategies to realize a greenhouse gas-neutral energy supply. In this consideration, a greenhouse gas reduction scenario (KSG 2045) was analyzed, based on the reduction targets of the Climate Protection Act and applying the ETHOS model family developed at ICE-2. This made it possible to map the energy system on varying scales, including all interactions and pathways. The scenario developed is a cost-optimal strategy. For this purpose, a highly-detailed energy system model was used that depicts the national energy supply, from energy generation to sectoral energy consumption.

Transform2Bio, 2019 - 2022
Ensuring the well-being of current and future generations without surpassing environmental limits is an overarching objective of the sustainable bioeconomy concept. Achieving this objective will require major transformations of existing resource systems, value networks, business models, infrastructures and governance systems. The recent decision of the German government to phase-out coal mining will initiate major transition processes in the lignite mining region, the Rheinische Revier, creating a unique opportunity for understanding the socio-technical dynamics and implementation options towards an entire sustainable bioeconomy region.
Against this background, Transform2Bio systematically identifies transformation trajectories for the implementation of a bioeconomy in the Rheinische Revier. These transformation routes must meet all of the following criteria: (a) they must be desirable (from a sustainability perspective), (b) feasible (from a techno-economic perspective), and (c) acceptable (from a stakeholder consensus perspective). Pooling expertise from (agricultural) economics, operations and innovation management, entrepreneurship, political science, economic development, consumer psychology and socio-technical systems analysis, the research approach of Transform2Bio follows an inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability research agenda. As part of this multi-dimensional approach, Transform2Bio will establish an interactive stakeholder network, the Stakes2Bio Lab. It will provide scope both for continuous stakeholder dialogue (‘society to science’) and the establishment of regional ‘science to society’ networks.

Uncertainty Quantification (UQ), 2019 - 2022
Helmholtz UQ develops methods for a systematic analysis of uncertainties in data and models for various application areas. The project aims for a holistic analysis from the identification and quantification of uncertainties to a comprehensive assessment of their impacts in simulations and predictions. These methods are essential for the analysis of future energy system which will be based on volatile renewable energy sources. ICE-2 analyses the impacts of uncertainties in the operation and stability of electric power systems.

MODEX-NET, 2019 - 2021
Model comparisons and experiments allow research teams to contrast model approaches in terms of methodology, structures, and data bases in order to better understand the approach chosen in each case and to identify potential for improvement. The overall objective of the MODEX-NET research project is to compare transmission network models that represent both the national and the European level. On the basis of defined case studies (model experiments), the participating collaborative partners want to find and verify the differences between the models. In doing so, they will compare methodological principles, applied model topologies and used data for the transmission network models.

Development, validation und implementation of Power-to-X-Concepts (Kopernikus P2X), 2016 - 2022
The aim of the project is the development and analysis of novel technologies that use electricity from renewable energy, water and carbon dioxide to produce material and energy sources for further use in the transport, energy and chemical sectors. This energy can thus be used in the form of tailor-made fuels for motor vehicles or in improved plastics and chemical products with high added value, thus significantly reducing the use of fossil-fuel based raw materials. A consortium of 18 research institutions, 27 industrial companies and three civil society bodies will develop new technologies to industrial maturity within ten years and thus contribute to the transformation of the energy system.

Collective Nonlinear Dynamics of Complex Power Grids (CoNDyNet2), 2019 - 2022
The project CoNDyNet addresses fundamental aspects of stability, reliability and efficiency of future power grids. The participating research institutes combine basic sciences in the fields of dynamical systems and network science with laboratory experiments, scenario analysis and industrial applications. Within this project, ICE-2 investigates aspects of voltage stability and N-x-stability and analyzes empirical data sets on power grid operation.

Helmholtz Initiative Climate Adaptation and Mitigation: Two Sides of the same Coin (HI-CAM), 2019 - 2022
The project combines HGF expertise in the research fields of energy and climate. It aims to draft scientifically based recommendations for action for decision-makers in politics and research. The cooperation between science and stakeholders is divided into three clusters: (1) Climate Adaptation, (2) Climate Mitigation and (3) Communication. The focus here is on the cluster Climate Mitigation, which focuses on the development of energy scenarios for a C-neutral Germany in 2050.

Economics of Climate Change – Transformation of the energy system towards sustainability focusing on community-based activities (REsCO), 2018 - 2022
In Germany, major efforts have been made to achieve a sustainable transformation of the energy system. However, it is becoming more and more obvious that Germany will miss the GHG emission reduction targets set out in the "Energiewende" policy. In particular, in the "private households" sector, progress is slower than hoped for. In this project, new insights will be gained showing to what extent, by taking the social context into account, private households can be motivated to participate more actively in a transformation of the energy system.

Center of excellence “Virtual Institute - Power to Gas and Heat” (KoVI SGW), 2018 - 2022
The center of excellence “Virtual Institute - Power to Gas and Heat” brings together the expertise of various research institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to explore cross-sectoral flexibility options in the future energy system. Different Power-to-X technologies will be investigated analytically and on the basis of a jointly operated experimental demonstration plant. At an aggregate level, analysis is carried out which evaluates flexibility options responding to competing priorities, namely the energy grid, system and market. The work of ICE-2 focuses on life cycle and process chain-based assessments of environmental impacts and costs.

METIS, 2018 - 2021
Within the project METIS (Methods and Models for Energy Transformation and Integration Systems), the Jülich Research Center and its partners from the RWTH Aachen University and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg develop open source software tools for modelling, optimizing, and simulation of current and future energy systems. The tools developed in METIS are used to forecast the German and European energy systems based on a high share of renewable energies until the year 2050.

Virtual Institute Smart Energy (VISE): Development of digital business models for a decentralized energy supply – Households, 2017 - 2022
Energy utility companies and energy service providers only have limited information when determining the energy demand of their customers, particularly households. A detailed analysis of the expectations and requirements of private energy consumers is essential for a successful technological diffusion and provides a platform for developing new business models. This project aims to analyze the readiness of households to invest in and use such new technologies.

Energy System Integration - Models for the Energy Systems of the Future (ESI), 2017 - 2021
The challenge of energy system transformation requires, among other things, intelligent networking of the various components of our energy systems. The cross-sectoral interaction between the individual energy system components, such as producers, storage facilities, consumers and various transport systems, has not yet been sufficiently taken into account. For this reason, the Energy System Integration project focuses on the technological and economic interactions of energy system components. The aim of the research project is to design a stable energy system of the future which is environmentally compatible, flexible and uses resources efficiently. A special feature of the project is the integration of processes of the metalworking, cement processing and petrochemical industry.

Integration of next Generation Biosurfactant Production into Biorefinery Processes (Bio²), 2017 - 2020
Bio² (Biosurfactant Biorefinery) aims at the development of a competitive biorefinery process for the production of rhamnolipids (RLs) and mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs). In the spirit of a sustainable bioeconomy, the process is based on waste products of the food industry. An inter-disciplinary approach is used to assess social-economic and ecological aspects along the entire production chain starting with new cultivation concepts through to the integration of downstream processing.

Accelerating Low- carbon Industrial Growth through CCUS (ALIGN-CCUS), 2017 - 2020
The ALIGN-CCUS project brings together 30 science and industry partners from five countries in a shared goal to support the quick and cost-effective deployment of CO₂ capture, use and storage. Within ALIGN-CCUS, a demonstration plant for CO₂ separation and subsequent synthesis of the diesel substitute fuel dimethlyether from the separated CO₂ and renewably generated H₂ via electrolysis will be built. The use of this fuel for electricity generation as well as for transport is also being tested. On the basis of the real data of the demonstrated CCU chain, a technical-economic-ecological evaluation is carried out.

Virtual Institute Smart Energy (VISE): Development of Digital Business Models for Decentralised Energy Supply – (Regional) Virtual Power Plants, 2017 - 2020
With a growing share of fluctuating renewable generation, the demand for flexibility allowing the balancing of electricity supply and demand increases. Virtual Power Plants (VPP) play an important role as an option to provide the required flexibility. The concept of VPPs is based on coupling decentralised units such as generation plants, storage systems and dispatchable loads. By aggregating and controlling the decentralised units, they become capable of providing demand-driven power supply. The project goal consists of identifying and analysing new digital business models in an increasingly decentralised energy supply system.

Harmonization and development of methods for modelling of energy demands in spatial and temporal resolutions (DemandRegio), 2017 - 2020
The aim of the project is the development of harmonized methods for the transparent derivation of temporally and spatially resolved time series of the German electricity and gas demands. Based on extensive data research and the integration of available energy statistics, energy demand drivers are identified that allow both a temporal and a spatial disaggregation. In addition to an approximation of historical values, the project focuses on the development of forward-looking scenarios. The project contributes to the comparison of input data used in different approaches and to the reduction of uncertainty relating to data. This will enable a reliable comparison of different model and scenario results in the future.

Energy System 2050 - Sustainability Assessment, 2015 - 2020
“Energy System 2050” is a joint initiative of the Helmholtz Association’s energy research field. It is aimed at improving the concrete understanding of energy systems and at developing technological solutions useful for policy makers and industry. The initiative explores the integration of key technological elements into the energy system and investigates solutions to integrate the partially fluctuating renewable energy sources successfully into German and European energy systems. Its five selected research topics address fundamental challenges of the Energiewende:
1. Storage and grids
2. Bioenergy
3. Hydrogen-based energy and resource pathways
4. Life-cycle-oriented sustainability analysis at system level
5. Toolbox and data models

Energy System 2050 – Storage and Grids, 2015 - 2020
Within the joint initiative Energy system 2050, we study future energy networks and storage systems. ICE-2 develops models for electric power transmission grids, gas grid and power plant unit commitment together with partners from several Helmholtz centers. In addition, we analyze the stability and robustness of power grids using analytic methods, numerical simulations and the analysis of empirical datasets.

Efficiency, Emergence and Economics of Future Supply Networks (E³-NET), 2014 - 2020
The Helmholtz Young Investigator’s group E3-NET analyses the dynamics, stability and efficiency of future supply networks. We combine modern mathematical methods from network science and statistical physics with actual challenges of the energy transition. Which risks threaten the stability of our energy supply, how can we understand them theoretically and how can we avoid them?

Trends of urbanization: the “Energiewende” in North Rhine-Westphalia and its implications for urban and rural areas (EnerUrb), 2018 - 2019
The research project “EnerUrb” targets the urban and rural implications of the “Energiewende” from a political, social, and cultural perspective with a specific focus on the water-energy-food nexus. It analyzes non-technical aspects of the “Energiewende” with regard to current trends of urbanization and aims to positively impact a transformation towards sustainable development. The project portfolio explicitly emphasizes participatory methods in order to engage local communities. These methods do not only allow for a deeper understanding of public values regarding current trends but also for an active integration of the general public into the research project as called for by the ‘science of transformation’ concept.

Research Network for the Development of New Methods in Energy System Modeling (4NEMO), 2016 - 2019
The project aims at an extended integration of economic and social dynamics and related uncertainties into energy system models. For this purpose, existing models will be developed further in order to allow for a better comparison between models. Moreover, a model comparison exercise will be conducted. Respective results will be used to show strengths, weaknesses and comparative advantages of the different models and to improve transparency in energy-system modeling.

Security of supply through the interaction of renewable and conventional electricity generation (Verekon), 2016 - 2019
The project compares different technology combinations of renewable and conventional power generation including storage with regard to a secured supply of 1,000 MW of electricity. The evaluation of technology combinations for the secure supply of the required capacity is carried out within a scenario process using the criteria of electricity production costs and specific CO₂ emissions.