If the electricity is particularly cheap, it automatically switches on the washing machine. What sounds like a dream of the future will soon become reality for several hundred test persons in Baden-Württemberg, as the 'Minimum Emission Region' (MeRegio) model project is launching its second phase. During the first phase, around one hundred customers received an intelligent electricity meter that is coupled to flexible electricity tariffs. The German Federal Ministry of Economics is supporting the project as part of its e-energy funding programme.  more...

In recent years, window manufacturers have improved the thermal insulation in their glazing systems with low-emissivity coatings. With solar glass, on the other hand, special glass types and reflection-reducing coatings optimise the light transmission. Scientists at the Institut für Solarenergieforschung Hameln (ISFH) have now combined these two different principles. Nicole Ehrmann and Sebastian Föste are investigating how flat-plate collectors used for generating solar thermal energy can benefit from low-e coatings.  more...

Last Sunday, the winners of the Solar Decathlon Europe were announced in Madrid. The 17 international university teams had to cope with many individual disciplines and comprehensive measurement-based evaluations across ten days of competition. The winners of the international building decathlon have now been announced. The Virginia State University (USA) won first place, while the German university teams from Rosenheim and Stuttgart were respectively awarded second and third place.  more...

The Solar Decathlon, an international competition for tertiary institutions, offers students a unique opportunity to implement architectural designs which would normally remain theoretical during their studies. Teams from various universities can realise their designs for energy-plus buildings, which in the annual balance produce more solar power than is necessary for operation, and see how they stand up to the demands of reality while competing against other ambitious projects.  more...

Approximately 50% of the global population lives in cities. In 2020, this figure will be more than 60%. The success of climate protections is, therefore, dependent on energy consumption and pollutant emissions in our cities and conurbations. Local councils can specify important framework conditions for implementing energy efficiency measures.  more...

Until now, geothermal energy utilisation has been considered difficult in regions with geological substrata consisting of sedimentary rock. However, attractive heat sources which can suffice for energy utilisation are also situated in many places with such rock formations.  more...

Solar energy is already used for air conditioning buildings, and now researchers want to use it to refrigerate fruit and other easily perishable food. Scientists from the Fraunhofer-Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg are demonstrating its feasibility in the Mediterranean region using the example of a winery in Tunisia and a dairy in Morocco.  more...

With a new technology, the efficient use of waste heat flows at temperatures between 200 and 500 degrees Celsius for electricity generation could in future be far more common than has previously been the case. With the support of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, DEVETEC GmbH is developing a system which can be extended in a modular fashion.  more...

What role do superconductors currently play in energy technology? Where are they used, what is the research status and what can be achieved in the future? Representatives from industry, science and politics discussed these questions on 16 and 17 March in Bonn at the ZIEHL II Conference on future and innovation in energy technology with high-temperature superconductors.  more...

In Germany, the electricity supplied by renewable energy systems already outstrips the current demand at times. This has led to negative electricity prices on the European Energy Exchange in Leipzig. Efficient technologies for storing large electricity volumes will therefore provide key components in a future grid.  more...

The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology has added the "electricity storage facilities" research focus to the research areas that it supports. One of the first projects to be funded is the development and construction of an "adiabatic compressed air energy storage facility". Construction of the first large-scale demonstration plant is to start in 2013.  more...

In recent years, the heat pump has become increasingly popular on the heating market. For new buildings and building refurbishment, users can expect lower energy costs and environmentally friendly, low-maintenance operation. There is much heated debate as to the degree of efficiency at which heat pumps work.  more...

Following a three-year planning and construction phase, the building complex for the local authorities and federal state parliament was erected and officially opened in the historic city centre of Eberswalde in 2007. From the very outset, energy-efficiency and sustainability were important criteria.  more...

According to the plans of the German Federal Government, Germany is to become a key market for electromobility. This is one of the reasons why the responsible ministries are increasing their activities in energy research. For example, the NET-ELAN joint project coordinated by Forschungszentrum Jülich is researching how a stock of electric vehicles can be practically integrated into existing and future energy supply structures. The initial results of the project subsidised by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology have now been made available.  more...

Most of the growing electricity generated from renewable energy sources is produced in wind farms. As part of the now completed EU project, "Wind on the grid", researchers and companies on the Iberian Peninsula tested how wind farms can be integrated into the European electricity grid on a large scale. As a German contribution, the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES) provided two control programs it had developed.  more...