Joint energy challenges and trends in Germany and China
Germany and China share a common history regarding the development of its energy sectors. A strong industrial base demands cost-effective and reliable power generation at any given time in both countries. Traditionally this demand is met by fossil-fired conventional power plants.
Today, the fight against climate change and air pollution requires an extensive transition of the energy supply systems in Germany and China. Despite the country-specific frameworks of this transition process, three major trends can be identified in both countries:
Decarbonization
The substitution of carbon-based energy carriers in all relevant sectors is the main tool in the fight against climate change. Regarding the power sector, this requires a significant expansion of renewable power generation capacities. However, the integration of these additional capacities into the power grid is challenging due to the inherent volatility of renewable power generation.
Decentralization
In contrast to traditional large-scale fossil-fired power plants, most renewable power generation capacities are distributed due to their limited unit size. In order to gain additional synergies on a local level, storage systems or combined heat and power generation units can be combined with distributed renewable power generation units. This trend results in a fully integrated and decentralized energy supply systems dominated by renewable power generation.
Digitalization
The digitalization of systems and processes plays an important role in every part of the changing energy supply system in Germany and China. On one hand, this trend enables consumers to play a more active role or even become power producers themselves. On the other hand, the digitalization allows for the detailed monitoring of all critical components of energy supply systems due to the availability of extensive data sets.
Joint energy challenges and trends in Germany and China
Germany and China share a common history regarding the development of its energy sectors. A strong industrial base demands cost-effective and reliable power generation at any given time in both countries. Traditionally this demand is met by fossil-fired conventional power plants.
Today, the fight against climate change and air pollution requires an extensive transition of the energy supply systems in Germany and China. Despite the country-specific frameworks of this transition process, three major trends can be identified in both countries:
Decarbonization
The substitution of carbon-based energy carriers in all relevant sectors is the main tool in the fight against climate change. Regarding the power sector, this requires a significant expansion of renewable power generation capacities. However, the integration of these additional capacities into the power grid is challenging due to the inherent volatility of renewable power generation.
Decentralization
In contrast to traditional large-scale fossil-fired power plants, most renewable power generation capacities are distributed due to their limited unit size. In order to gain additional synergies on a local level, storage systems or combined heat and power generation units can be combined with distributed renewable power generation units. This trend results in a fully integrated and decentralized energy supply system dominated by renewable power generation.
Digitalization
The digitalization of systems and processes plays an important role in every part of the changing energy supply system in Germany and China. On one hand, this trend enables consumers to play a more active role or even become power producers themselves. On the other hand, the digitalization allows for the detailed monitoring of all critical components of energy supply systems due to the availability of extensive data sets.
Major research topics of CERI
The joint research activities within CERI aim to provide innovative solutions for the decarbonization, the decentralization and the digizalization of the German and Chinese energy supply systems. Currently, the main research activities are focussed on two topcis:
Distributed Energy System / Energy Internet
The design and the operation of distributed energy systems with a high share of renewable power generation is challenging due to the inherent volatility of renewable power generation. In order to guarantee an additional value of the distributed system configuration, an individual optimization of each system’s performance and design is required. The research within CERI focusses on the development of distributed energy system models and the integration of optimization algorithms into these models. An important aspect within the context of this work is the integration of the different frameworks of the German and the Chinese energy supply systems into these models.
Low Emission Gas Turbine Technology
Gas turbines can play an important role in energy supply systems that are characterized by a high share of volatile renewable power generation. They can reliably compensate the fluctuations of the residual load while maintaining low levels of pollutant emissions. However, this highly flexible mode of operation is challenging for gas turbines and requires an adapted design on one hand and a continuous monitoring of the operation on the other hand. The research activities within CERI focus on the development of tailored gas turbine models for these purposes.
Major research topics of CERI
The joint research activities within CERI aim to provide innovative solutions for the decarbonization, the decentralization and the digizalization of the German and Chinese energy supply systems. Currently, the main research activities are focussed on two topcis:
Distributed Energy System / Energy Internet
The design and the operation of distributed energy systems with a high share of renewable power generation is challenging due to the inherent volatility of renewable power generation. In order to guarantee an additional value of the distributed system configuration, an individual optimization of each system’s performance and design is required. The research within CERI focusses on the development of distributed energy system models and the integration of optimization algorithms into these models. An important aspect within the context of this work is the integration of the different frameworks of the German and the Chinese energy supply systems into these models.
Low Emission Gas Turbine Technology
Gas turbines can play an important role in energy supply systems that are characterized by a high share of volatile renewable power generation. They can reliably compensate the fluctuations of the residual load while maintaining low levels of pollutant emissions. However, this highly flexible mode of operation is challenging for gas turbines and requires an adapted design on one hand and a continuous monitoring of the operation on the other hand. The research activities within CERI focus on the development of tailored gas turbine models for these purposes.
Joint competences of CERI
Joint competences of CERI
Gas turbine modeling for design and performance optimization
Potential analysis of innovative decarbonization technologies
- Modeling of distributed energy system components
- Model based optimization of design and operation of distributed energy systems
- Development of physically based gas turbine models
- Development of data driven gas turbine models
- Modelling of decarbonization technologies
- Integration into energy system models for potential assessment
Joint competences of CERI
- Modeling of distributed energy system components
- Model based optimization of design and operation of distributed energy systems
Gas turbine modeling for design and performance optimization
- Development of physically based gas turbine models
- Development of data driven gas turbine models
Potential analysis of innovative decarbonization technologies
- Modelling of decarbonization technologies
- Integration into energy system models for potential assessment
Joint publications within CERI
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DATA AND PHYSICALLY BASED GAS TURBINE MODELING FOR LONG-TERM MONITORING SCENARIOS - PART I: THERMODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE PREDICTION WITHOUT DESIGN INFORMATION
Authors: Thomas Bexten, Moritz Lipperheide, Manfred Wirsum, Liu Pei, Li Zheng
Conference /Journal: Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2018, June 11 - 15, 2018, Lillestrom, Norway
Link: www.ikdg.rwth-aachen.de