29.11.2024 09:49
Research projects, research/knowledge transfer
District President Thomas Schürmann presents the state’s funding notice
The state capital region of Düsseldorf-Mettmann district will receive funding of around 2 million euros over a period of three years for a new project on the topic of energy transition. As part of the “Regio.NRW-Transformation” call, the region successfully applied for funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with the “Smart Energy Hub Düsseldorf-Kreis Mettmann” project. The “Smart Energy Hub” (SEH-DUS) is one of a total of 33 funded projects in North Rhine-Westphalia.
On November 28, 2024, District President Thomas Schürmann handed over the funding decision to the project sponsors Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences and Düsseldorf Innovation and Technology Center GmbH (DITEC). Another project partner is, among others, the regional management of the Düsseldorf-Kreis Mettmann.
The “SEH-DUS” is a groundbreaking project led by Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences with the Center for Innovative Energy Systems (ZIES) under the direction of Prof. Dr. Mario Adam and the MIREVI (Mixed Reality and Visualization), led by Prof. Dr. Christian Geiger. The project focuses on the further development and implementation of virtualized tools for use in building and energy management of single- and multi-family homes as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) so that they can be supported in switching to renewable energies. The university’s competencies in the area of innovative energy systems are linked to the competencies of future users. The path to “SEH-DUS” is an important building block in testing and establishing sustainable and efficient transfer structures in the region. Target groups are involved in the development process of software tools or innovative forms of presentation and interaction via various formats.
The handover of the funding decision took place on the premises of Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. Prime Minister Schürmann emphasized how important it is to develop future-oriented technology tools in the field of renewable energies, adapt them to the needs of the economy and bring them to companies in a practical manner in order to meet the challenges of climate change and strengthen regional competitiveness.
Professor Adam was also pleased about the funding commitment: “This funding enables us to further sharpen our expertise in the area of intelligent energy solutions and to promote the transfer of our research results into the practice of energy suppliers, planners, tradesmen and SMEs.”
The plan is to establish a hub around the topic of smart energies at a location that is as central as possible. Companies and service providers involved in the energy transition should be able to network and exchange information there, and technologies should be presented and explained here. Tools for, among other things, the automated optimization of complex energy supply systems are also intended to increase accessibility for a wide range of users and thus customer benefit. Applications visualize and explain connections and future technologies relating to the energy transition in a realistic and low-threshold manner. At the end of the project period, the SEH-DUS will be a place that will serve as an experimental field, showroom and educational and event space. Employees, for example from energy suppliers, engineering offices or craft businesses, get to know ZIES’ areas of expertise interactively and work with scientists on solutions to questions about innovative energy systems and the integration of sustainable energy technologies.
Further information:
