Greater resilience for electricity and heating networks: The University of Oldenburg is involved in two of the five newly funded projects run by the Lower Saxony Energy Research Centre (efzn). The University of Bremen is participating as an associated partner in one of the projects.
Whether extreme weather, accidents, terrorist attacks or even acts of war: energy supply systems are exposed to a wide range of threats. To better prepare electricity and heating networks in Lower Saxony for crises, the Lower Saxony Energy Research Centre (efzn) is funding five small, agile projects this year that address the topic of ‘resilient energy systems’. The aim is to strengthen interdisciplinary research and to identify potential courses of action for Lower Saxony’s state government. The University of Oldenburg is leading one of the five selected projects and is involved in a second. The University of Bremen is participating in this project as an associated partner, but is not itself receiving funding.
“We are delighted by the keen interest in our call for proposals. It underlines the applicants’ strong sense of responsibility for strengthening the resilience of the energy system in Lower Saxony,” explains efzn board spokesperson Prof. Dr Sebastian Lehnhoff, Professor of Energy Informatics at the University of Oldenburg.
The project involving researchers from Oldenburg and Bremen focuses on a new concept for distribution networks. Another project, led by researchers from Oldenburg, addresses the need for further training on the topic of resilient energy networks.
Greater flexibility in the electricity grid
In the project “ReKoMi – Resilience in Coupled Medium-Voltage Networks: power-electronically coupled, digitised, cellular active distribution networks’, the project participants aim to conduct a short study to determine how a cellular network concept can be usefully implemented in the electricity supply. The researchers are investigating whether connecting medium-voltage cells via direct current coupling could improve the resilience of Lower Saxony’s electricity grids. Those involved include energy informatics expert Prof. Dr Astrid Nieße from the University of Oldenburg and electrical engineer Prof. Dr Johanna Myrzik from the University of Bremen. The project leader is Prof. Dr Regine Mallwitz from the University of Braunschweig.
Further education programmes for different target groups
The project “Resilience Competences for a Crisis-Resilient Energy System in Lower Saxony: Analysis of Skills Requirements & Development of a Further Education Map’, led by Prof. Dr Klaus Fichter, a member of the Executive Board of the C3L – Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Oldenburg, and Tim Zentner, Managing Director of the C3L.
The project team is, on the one hand, identifying which skills are important for a resilient energy supply and, on the other hand, compiling a catalogue of relevant skills for different target groups. The aim is to systematically catalogue existing continuing professional development programmes and to formulate recommendations for future training programmes.
Funding for the projects will commence on 1 August and is limited to a maximum of six months.
