Vehicle test stand at the Institute of Networked Energy Systems
At the vehicle test stand, the Sector Integration – Mobility group is researching how waste heat from a hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle can be utilised as efficiently and systemically as possible to support heating in buildings in addition to using the electrical energy supplied.
The increasing number of battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the energy system: On the one hand, large amounts of electricity or hydrogen are needed for their operation. On the other hand, the energy stored in the vehicles can be used to supply buildings or entire neighbourhoods with electricity and heat. This can be used to stabilise the electricity grid and in the local heat supply, thus helping to harmonise demand and the generation of renewable energies.
Against this background, the Sector Integration – Mobility group is researching how the interfaces between vehicles and electricity and heat grids have to be be designed in order to exploit this potential. Here, both cargo bikes and passenger cars as well as larger vehicles such as trucks, agricultural machinery, trains, ships and aeroplanes are considered, as well as digitally connected vehicles as virtual power plants, so-called fleet power plants. In addition, the group is analysing hydrogen storage and supply for the various applications.
In practical implementation, the group uses a fuel cell vehicle converted at the DLR so that electricity can be fed out when the vehicle is stationary and the waste heat from the fuel cell can be used in the building. For battery electric vehicles, the connection is established via unidirectional and bidirectional charging stations and integrated into building and district energy management systems using information technology. The potential of larger vehicles or networks for heat and electricity grids is analyzed in optimization simulations using the MTRESS model developed at the institute, among other modeling software. The physical implementation of the coupling of vehicles and buildings, neighborhoods and agricultural properties is supplemented by process engineering simulations. Another focus is on analyzing the purity of hydrogen for fuel cells after storage and transport.
