Sector coupling research infrastructure

Based on its research strategy, the EST is currently building an infrastructure for the development and testing of components and operating strategies for combined electrical, material and thermal energy coupling in real operation with the test field "Integration of green hydrogen in sector-coupled energy systems". The project aims to expand the hydrogen-related research infrastructure of the EST and includes the utilisation of locally generated renewable electrical energy from photovoltaics for a large-scale electrolysis plant, the local use of the green hydrogen produced and the networking of research and infrastructure facilities. This creates a system for the development and testing of components as well as research into the system behaviour of combined electrical, material and thermal energy coupling in real operation. The expansion also enables the integration of further working groups and specialist disciplines at the university into interdisciplinary research and opens up additional project potential in the area of third-party funding.

The aim is to expand the existing infrastructure in such a way that the coupling of different energy sectors can be investigated and optimised from different scientific perspectives. On the one hand, an energy system with a high degree of freedom is being created for the development and testing of new, innovative optimisation processes and operating strategies from the disciplines of mathematics, control engineering, information technology, energy technology, process engineering and economics. In contrast to comparable energy systems and research facilities, however, there is the "real" constraint of stable plant operation, as the infrastructure is integrated into the EST's energy supply system. The extension applied for can therefore be considered a real laboratory with systems of a practical size. Due to the diversity and close interlinking of the existing infrastructure and the new infrastructure applied for here, as well as the future connection to the local supply networks, the basic supply of the EST is nevertheless ensured, e.g. in the event of set-up times or failures of individual components.

At the same time, the infrastructure to be developed will create a wide range of incentives and conditions for solving various scientific issues:

• Testing of individual components for a future energy supply
• Overall energy concept / sector coupling laboratory
• Lighthouse project and blueprint for future neighbourhood solutions with corresponding visibility and scientific reputation for the TUC
• Training of future students using a real-life example (sustainable energy systems, energy informatics, energy and raw materials management, industrial engineering, process engineering, etc.)
• Opportunities for cooperation with scientific institutions and industry
• Digitalisation platform / development and testing of "smart" systems/components ("IoT")
• Development of optimal strategies for resource-efficient and climate-friendly operation of the EST research infrastructure