Innovation in today´s energy system is mainly driven by the need to achieve the European Union´s decarbonisation targets. The integration of decentralised renewable energy sources together with the adoption of energy efficiency measures are key steps in the transition towards 100% renewable energy systems.
In this context, the hybridisation of energy systems is a promising solution to exploit synergies between different energy domains (such as electricity, heat and gas), which results in a higher flexibility, efficiency, reliability and security of supply. However, this transition poses practical challenges, since traditional methodologies for design and assessment of energy systems do not consider inter-dependencies among multiple domains.
The AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology addresses multi-domain aspects within the new Research Field Integrated Energy Systems. The assessment of energy systems follows a holistic approach, which considers technical requirements, as well as the economic and legal framework. AIT establishes itself as a leader in supporting stakeholders from the public and private sector through the development of innovative concepts for the integration of mainly thermal and electricity networks. The key topics covered by the Integrated Energy Systems team are the following:
- integrated energy infrastructure planning,
- operation strategies for hybrid energy systems,
- energy market modelling & business model validation and
- support for energy related legal and regulatory development.
Among the activities carried out within the team, the project Fit4Power2Heat can be highlighted. It aims at designing innovative business models for heat pump integration in rural district heating networks in Austria. The project idea originates from the challenge imposed by the volatile production characteristics of renewable power generation and the low profitability of many biomass plants in rural heating networks, which are reaching the end of their technical lifetime.
Heat pumps provide an ideal coupling point between thermal and electricity networks, providing flexibility and increasing the profitability of the networks. The operation of heat pumps can be optimised to use cheap electricity prices on the day-ahead spot market; additionally, they can participate in a pool to offer flexibility for the balancing market and thus increase the revenues. A detailed techno-economic analysis is conducted, combined with an operational optimisation of the case studies assessed. According to the preliminary results, the reduction of operational costs and the achieved revenues through market participation are promising, which leads to profitable future business models.
The project, together with the activities carried out by the team Integrated Energy Systems, provides hybrid solutions for the current and future challenges of the energy system.