Electricity Technologies

Electricity is essential in today’s society at both the private and the business level. With a proportion of around 20 percent of overall energy demand, electricity is of central importance in the energy sector. Despite constant efficiency gains, electricity demand is set to increase sharply again due to the increasing decarbonisation in the transport (e.g. e-mobility) and heating (e.g. heat pumps) sectors.

This means that additional efficiency gains in the fields of electricity production, distribution and consumption will be decisive. In addition, storage technologies help balance the fluctuating production over differing timeframes and thus contribute towards a secure future energy supply.

The Electricity Technologies research programme makes a contribution towards a substantial and sustainable efficiency increase, as well as towards research on new storage technologies. Additional synergy effects are obtained thanks to close coordination with the Networks research programme.

The main strategic objectives include efficient energy conversion with new wide band gap power electronics, plus the technological conversion of heat into electricity and efficiency improvements in selected areas of application. Here the main focus is on electrical machines, and on appliances and systems (including digitisation) in information technology and communication. In addition, studies are to be carried out on specific new electromechanical storage technologies.

Energy Savings (TWh/year)

Efficiency potential for different applications by moving to WBG semiconductors.
Source: IEA 4E TCP PECTA

Current research priorities for 2021 to 2024

Conversion technologies

• Material and system-related efficiency increases of power electronics; new power electronics components (e.g. wide band gap semiconductors);
• Measures to speed up the market launch of efficient power electronics technologies;
• Use of low-level waste heat for additional electricity production;
• Evaluation and analysis of development of promising materials for specific conversion technologies (e.g. materials for innovative magnetocaloric motors/generators);
• Clarification of feasibility and potential of new conversion technologies; efficiency analyses and technology research where potential for efficiency gains is foreseeable. Here the prerequisites are a corresponding energy efficiency potential and a significant contribution towards the costs from the national industry.

Storage technologies

• Closure of specific knowledge gaps concerning critical system components in the field of compressed-air storage; studies of compressed-air storage systems;
• Study and analysis of new and sustainable types of electromechanical storage technologies.

Efficiency technologies

• Electric motors and drive systems: analysis and support of potential efficiency increases with focus on systemic approach (inclusion of process); efficiency improvements through targeted integration of inverters;
• Energy-related impacts of digitisation; innovative digitisation concepts for increasing energy efficiency in industry and the private sector;
• Energy-related issues in the areas of Internet of Things, smart metering, smart home and efficient IT and communications equipment;
• Minimisation of the standby consumption of network-based IT and communications equipment;
• Use of new technologies and materials (e.g. high-temperature supraconductors) for increasing energy efficiency. Here the prerequisites are a corresponding energy efficiency potential and a significant contribution towards the costs from the national industry;
• International exchanges of findings relating to energy efficiency through participation in the activities of the IEA TCP, "Energy Efficient End Use Equipment" (4E).

Tendering procedure

Research promotion is based on an open tendering procedure. Potential applicants are asked to contact the programme head before they submit an application.

Documents

Specialised articles Electricity

• Der versteckte Nutzen von PV-Anlagen
  (PDF, 4.9 MB, 07.10.2021) ID: 10637 | 141
• Wozu Smart Meter gut sind
  (PDF, 3.6 MB, 07.10.2021) ID: 10638 | 141
• Die Verlockung des eigenen PV-Stroms
  (PDF, 3.4 MB, 03.05.2021) ID: 10515 | 141
• Eine Sicherung für alle Fälle
  (PDF, 5.8 MB, 02.03.2021) ID: 10485 | 141
• Switching elements of the thrifty variety
  (PDF, 2.1 MB, 14.01.2021) ID: 10364 | 141

Display more publications ID: 141

• Problem und Teil der Lösung
  (PDF, 3.2 MB, 02.06.2020) ID: 10104 | 141
• Stromnetz fit machen für die Erneuerbaren
  (PDF, 2.7 MB, 20.05.2020) ID: 10101 | 141
• Compressed air stabilizes the power grid
  (PDF, 2.6 MB, 20.03.2020) ID: 10065 | 141
• Huge energy-savings by WBG semiconductors
  (PDF, 2.2 MB, 07.02.2020) ID: 10023 | 141
• Licht nach Bedarf
  (PDF, 1.8 MB, 30.08.2019) ID: 9814 | 141
• When Algorithms Control PV Consumption
  (PDF, 2.4 MB, 09.08.2019) ID: 9795 | 141
• Stromnetz-Monitoring via das Stromnetz
  (PDF, 1.9 MB, 31.05.2019) ID: 9724 | 141
• When devices become ‹energy-aware›
  (PDF, 1.4 MB, 11.01.2019) ID: 9588 | 141
• Smart Meter ohne Störsignal
  (PDF, 2.2 MB, 13.04.2018) ID: 9321 | 141
• SBB: A new battery for the on-board network
  (PDF, 4 MB, 09.03.2018) ID: 9074 | 141
• Who’s afraid of power lines?
  (PDF, 3.5 MB, 09.02.2018) ID: 9008 | 141
• Industriebetrieb bricht Spitzen beim Stromverbrauch
  (PDF, 2.5 MB, 08.12.2017) ID: 8927 | 141
• Ein zweites Leben für Postroller-Batterien
  (PDF, 2.9 MB, 10.11.2017) ID: 8870 | 141
• Drahtlos Laden: bequem, aber weniger effizient
  (PDF, 1.6 MB, 06.10.2017) ID: 8806 | 141
• Industrieanlagen stabilisieren das Stromnetz
  (PDF, 3 MB, 14.09.2017) ID: 8783 | 141
• Druckluftspeicher: Der Fels hält dicht
  (PDF, 2.4 MB, 20.01.2017) ID: 8552 | 141
• Eine Welt fast ohne Standby-Verbrauch und Gebrauchsanleitungen auf Papier
  (PDF, 1.8 MB, 16.12.2016) ID: 8526 | 141
• Networking Achieved With Low power
  (PDF, 4.1 MB, 14.11.2016) ID: 8478 | 141
• Electricity flow on Track
  (PDF, 3.2 MB, 27.10.2016) ID: 8453 | 141
• Der Algorithmus als Energieberater
  (PDF, 1.9 MB, 20.09.2016) ID: 8411 | 141
• Das Potenzial der Thermoelektrik
  (PDF, 1.4 MB, 08.07.2016) ID: 8352 | 141
• Damit die Batterie ins Netz passt
  (PDF, 2.2 MB, 24.06.2016) ID: 8341 | 141
• Augen im Stromnetz
  (PDF, 2.6 MB, 31.05.2016) ID: 8314 | 141
• Distribution Grid with an Outlook
  (PDF, 1.3 MB, 05.02.2016) ID: 8173 | 141
• Strom aus handwarmem Wasser
  (PDF, 1.1 MB, 19.11.2015) ID: 8095 | 141
• A measurement system that recognizes (almost) all electrical appliances
  (PDF, 1.2 MB, 16.11.2015) ID: 8086 | 141
• A salt battery that stores solar power
  (PDF, 1.7 MB, 28.09.2015) ID: 8043 | 141
• tiko belebt den Regelenergie-Markt
  (PDF, 1.3 MB, 26.07.2015) ID: 7961 | 141
• More stable power thanks turbogenerators
  (PDF, 877 KB, 02.07.2015) ID: 7953 | 141
• Trafos haben noch Effizienzpotenzial
  (PDF, 824 KB, 09.06.2015) ID: 7914 | 141
• Die richtige Batterie für Selbstversorger
  (PDF, 741 KB, 14.11.2014) ID: 7629 | 141
• Der Thermostat wird energieautark
  (PDF, 1011 KB, 03.11.2014) ID: 7619 | 141
• Collective intelligence for the electricity grid
  (PDF, 834 KB, 10.09.2014) ID: 7573 | 141
• A novel router that consumes only one fifth of the usual current
  (PDF, 820 KB, 19.02.2014) ID: 7368 | 141
• When the cold store becomes a battery
  (PDF, 422 KB, 18.10.2013) ID: 7285 | 141
• Connaître les influences météorologiques permet de mieux exploiter les lignes électriques
  (PDF, 124 KB, 01.07.2013) ID: 7119 | 141
• Power lines that respond to the weather
  (PDF, 533 KB, 25.03.2013) ID: 7046 | 141
• Strom speichern mit Kochsalz
  (PDF, 1000 KB, 01.07.2012) ID: 6973 | 141
• Wege zum Ersatz von Elektroheizungen
  (PDF, 309 KB, 01.07.2011) ID: 5959 | 141
• SBB deckt Sparpotenziale auf
  (PDF, 150 KB, 01.03.2009) ID: 6654 | 141

Links

IEA Energy Technology Network initiatives:

IEA 4E TCP – Energy Efficient End-use Equipment

IEA 4E TCP PECTA – Power Electronic Conversion Technology

IEA 4E TCP EMSA – Electric Motor Systems

IEA 4E TCP EDNA – Electronic Devices & Networks

IEA 4E TCP SSL – Solid State Lighting

IEA HTS TCP – High Temperature Superconductivity

IEA ECES TCP – Energy Storage

IEA Users TCP – User-centered Energy Systems

Law

Energy labels and efficiency requirements

Last modification 29.10.2020