Winners of the BMWi competition "E-Energy" named

BMWi, Berlin, 4th March 2008: The Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), Dagmar Wöhrl, today announced the 6 winners of the "E-Energy: IKT-based energy system of the future" competition at the CeBIT 2008 in Hannover.

"E-Energy" was declared a priority lighthouse project at the national IT summit and is a key part of the high-tech strategy and "Information Society Germany 2010" program of the Federal Government. As a result of the technology competition announced in April 2007, 28 top-ranking projects for the creation of E-Energy model regions were suggested. 6 of these research projects were then selected for the award by an independent jury. They best demonstrated how the great optimisation potential of information and communication technologies (IKT) can be developed to achieve even greater cost effectiveness, security of supplies as well as climate and environmental compatibility in electricity distribution. The award-winning projects will be supported by a cross-sectoral partnership with the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety (BMU). Subject to securing the funds in its budget, the BMWi will be providing up to 40 mn. euros for 4 model regions and the BMU will be supporting the two remaining model regions. This means that more model projects can be carried out than originally planned.

"On our path to an Internet for energy", explained State Secretary Wöhrl, "we have only taken the first step and face some daunting challenges. IKT allows a truly consistent optimisation of technical systems and business process throughout all phases of the value-added chain. We are dealing here with a change that goes deep into operational organisations and market relationships. We want to achieve the energy and climate policy goals that have been set even better with E-Energy. We want to give the information and energy market some new stimuli and open up some innovative fields of employment and markets.

"E-Energy" builds on the results of the preceding BMWi study "Potentials of information and communication technologies to optimize the energy supply and energy consumption". It came to the result that the necessary further progress of the liberalisation and decentralisation of the energy market is doomed to failure without a comprehensive IKT penetration. It became particularly clear that energy efficiency, the expansion of renewable energies and CO2 reduction can be greatly improved with IKT. On the whole, a great need for action by the economy and state was identified.

The following projects were chosen to receive E-Energy awards (in alphabetical order):

eTelligence - Intelligence for Energy, Markets and Networks, Cuxhaven
The eTelligence project represents a rural model region with a low supply density and a high share of regenerative energies based on wind energy. A complex control system to balance out the volatility of wind energy is to be developed that integrates the electricity intelligently in the networks and markets and guarantees a high security of supplies with an improved cost effectiveness. The core of eTelligence is a regional electricity portal that brings together generators, consumers, energy service providers and network operators. A standardised Plug&Play network that simplifies access for new generators and consumers will serve as a basis for future innovative solutions. An online visualization of the electricity consumption should help household customers identify "energy guzzlers" and adapt their consumption behaviour. Cuxhaven offers optimum possibilities for eTelligence: several swimming baths, cold stores, the housing society and operators of wind energy and CCCP plants will be taking an active role in the eTelligence marketplace.
Protagonists: EWE AG, OFFIS e.V., energy & meteo systems GmbH, BTC AG, Fraunhofer-Verbund Energie, SAP AG


E-DeMa - development and demonstration of locally networked energy systems to the E-Energy marketplace of the future; Rhine-Ruhr area
The model regions of the E-DeMa regional pool, which cover rural and urban areas with two different distribution grids in the Rhine-Ruhr area, are characterised by a very heterogeneous supply density. This leads to some particular technical challenges that are being dealt with through the creation of an intelligent IKT infrastructure. The research project builds on the existing distribution of digital meters („SmartMetering") to bring about energy efficiency through networking in the household (new "IKT gateway"). It is about the development of an intelligent consumption control and a realtime consumption data acquisition and provision, for example. The operational management of the grid will also be optimised in local distribution grids.
Protagonists: RWE Energy AG, Siemens AG, ef.ruhr GmbH, Miele & Cie. KG, Stadtwerke Krefeld AG, Prosyst Software GmbH


MEREGIO - evolution to minimum emission regions, Karlsruhe/Stuttgart
The MEREGIO (Minimum Emission Region) research project is aimed at the use of IKT to minimise Co2 and protect the climate. The plan focuses on the development of a "minimum emission" certification that will be used in the Karlsruhe/Stuttgart model region. This should create an instrument that externally communicates the efficacy of regional concepts to improve energy efficiency and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases with a high visibility. The requirements of an efficient energy system are satisfied through the integration of the latest online techniques, from energy generation through to consumption, in a platform. The further development of norms and standards plays an outstanding role here.
Protagonists: EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG; ABB AG, IBM Deutschland GmbH, SAP AG, Systemplan GmbH, University of Karlsruhe (TH)


Model City Mannheim - Model City Mannheim in the metropolitan region Rhine-Neckar, Mannheim
The Model City Mannheim project concentrates on an urban agglomeration with a high supply density in which regenerative and local energies are used to a high degree. Within the scope of E-Energy, a representative large-scale attempt will be made with new methods to improve the energy efficiency, network quality and integration of regenerative and local energies in the municipal distribution grid. The core here is the development of a cross-medial approach (electricity, gas, water) to network the consumption components by means of a broadband powerline infrastructure. Customers are offered electricity close to the place and time of generation. High-loss transports and the construction of energy stores are avoided.  The customer can align his consumption to a variable price. Realtime information on energy consumption should also help customers make their own contribution to more energy efficiency.
Protagonists: MVV Energie AG, IBM Deutschland GmbH, Power PLUS Communications AG, Papendorf Software Engineering GmbH, DREWAG - Stadtwerke Dresden GmbH, University of Duisburg-Essen

RegModHarz - Regenerative model region Harz, rural district of Harz
The goal of the "Regenerative model region Harz" project is to safeguard grid stability despite the high volatility of regenerative energies. The Rural District of Harz, which has distinguished itself through a number of regenerative energy generators (wind farm, pumped storage power plants as well as photovoltaic systems, biogas systems), provides an ideal framework to test the technologies and business models developed in the project. In conjunction with an innovative online network, the generators, traders, network operators and customers involved are offered an ecologically and economically optimised energy supply through to a fully supply. The integration of electric vehicles and electricity stores that are to be tested should be emphasised from a technological point of view.
Protagonists: RegenerativKraftwerk Harz GmbH & Co KG, E.ON Avacon Netz GmbH, Siemens AG, in.power GmbH, ISET e.V, Vattenfall Europe Transmission GmbH


Smart W@TTS - Increase the self-regulation capability of the energy system through the "intelligent kilowatt hour" and the Energy Internet, Aachen
The Smart W@tts model project is based on the affiliation of Trianel with 70 municipal utilities who wish to contribute to an "Energy Internet", in particular through the creation of interoperability and standardization in an IKT-based energy supply. Modular, intelligent electricity meters are to be further developed into a central energy station in the home in this project. The aim is that household devices will primarily consume electricity automatically when it is at its cheapest (e.g. in strong winds or sunshine) with no restrictions on comfort. Furthermore, customers will be provided with detailed information and new services from the energy market on the basis of this infrastructure, e.g. via a new online energy advice system.
Protagonists: Trianel European Energy Trading GmbH, Soptim AG, Research Institute for Rationalisation (FIR) at the RWTH Aachen, PSI Büsing & Buchwald GmbH, Bosch Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, Stadtwerke Aachen AG

Further information can be found at www.bmwi.de and www.e-energie.info.

The contact person is Mr. Günter Seher, multimedia project manager at the BMWi (guenter.seher@dlr.de).