Research Group MicroEnergy Systems

Current Research Agenda

Research Agenda: Science & Education for the Last Decade of the SDG 7

The Microenergy Systems Research Group (MES) takes a microperspective on the Energy Transformation Process, by understanding, researching, improving, innovating and raising awareness of fair and sustainable energy development and transition processes.

Taking the microperspective means placing citizens, households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the center of the MES agenda. 

Fact is, that currently:

  • 800 million people lack access to electricity
  • 2.8 billion people are without access to clean cooking 
  • Per capita electricity consumption varies more than 100-fold across the world 
  • Per capita energy consumption varies more than 10-fold across the world
  • Energy access is strongly related to income: poorer households are more likely to lack access
    • See more data on energy access here 

The Sustainable Development Goal Nr. 7 (SDG7)  of the United Nations 2030 Agenda is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.  

MES is particularly committed to contribute to SDG7A by promoting Science, Education and the Mobility of researchers for SDG 7 at the Technical University Berlin and among its national and international cooperation partners. 

Accordingly, MES's research focuses on:

  1. Decentralization and digitalization of energy systems in rural, peri-urban and urban regions
  2. The acceptance of technological and societal innovations in the energy sector
  3. Progress from energy consumption to energy prosumption (production & consumption) at decentralized level
  4. Fair and sustainable supply chains
  5. Sustainable mobility, particularly in the Global South
  6. Green and solidarity based inclusive finance
  7. 5G of energy = interconnection of renewables
  8. Energy as an enabler at the NEXUS with 
    1. Water (drinking and productive)
    2. Agriculture (food security and income generating agricultural activities)
    3. Digital services (education and infrastructure)
  9. The role of energy in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies 

The MES Research Group has an inter- and trans-disciplinary approach

 

The interdisciplinary approach: 

In practice, the research involves a broad range of Institutes at the TU Berlin, which are well anchored in their disciplines, and fused into practical and implementable research results. 

More specifically, this evolves in the following areas of research:

Energy and Electrical Engineering

  • Grid Studies
    • Smart grids
    • Peer-to-Peer decentralized renewable energy grids (swarm grids)
    • DC grids on extra-low, low and medium voltage level
    • Green and Hybrid mini-grids, power cells
    • Sector-coupling through multimodal cellular structures (including electrical grid, heat, gas and mobility)
    • Integration of decentralized renewable energy systems in the overall energy transportation infrastructure
    • Grid stabilization / Improvements / Retrofitting / Control / Operation / Structuring
  • Storage
    • Battery storage systems
      • Diverse type of batteries
      • Retrofitting /refurbishing batteries
      • Recycling and upcycling
    • Alternative storage systems for decentralized renewable energy systems
      • low-cost high-efficient bidirectional DC/DC converters
  • Development of energy superefficient DC Appliances
  • Development of power electronics

 

Socio-economics / Business models / Psychology

  • Open source business models
  • Inclusive consumer finance (microfinance, PAYGO)
  • Technology acceptance studies 
  • Metrics for energy access and sustainability
    • Application and further development of the Multi-Tier Framework for Measuring Energy Access (MTF
    • Development / application of metrics for bottom up energy transformation processes, particularly for the transportation sector / sustainable mobility in the Global South. 
    • Development / application of metrics for bottom up energy transformation processes, particularly for the industry sector in an off-grid or weak-on-grid environment in the Global South.

     

Product and Service Design Methodologies

  • Product and Service Design
  • Product-Service Systems 
  • Upgradable/modular energy systems
  • User experience with energy systems
  • User and community centric design
  • MTF based product design

     

Macro Economics & Energy Policy

  • Circular economy
  • Upgradable/modular energy systems
  • Energy Citizenship
  • Fair energy structures
  • Universal basic energy supply
  • SDG 7 for 17 SDGs
  • Resilience through Renewables