Fraunhofer Center Digital Energy
Digital Information Management
The application of digital information technologies within the energy and economic sectors holds considerable promise for enabling real-time energy management and enhancing the efficacy of climate protection. Specifically, technologies such as blockchains, in synergy with other digital innovations like Self-Sovereign Identities (SSI) and Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), exhibit the potential to expedite the decarbonization of economies and societies.
Real-Time CO2 Accounting
One challenge being addressed is the digital gap in CO2 accounting: When households make decisions on consumer goods, mobility, and energy supply, or when companies determine procurements, production and investments, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the associated CO2 emissions. Potential solutions for digital CO2 verification, include product passports, high-resolution green power verification, and CO2 offset credits. In addition to cost reductions in the currently prevailing manual data collection, a major benefit being investigated is digital verification and thus increasing the quality of data and information. Using primary data instead of estimated values, double counting and errors can be reduced (#csr #csddd #esg #cbam) enabling companies to factor real time CO2 information into their decisions.
Optimizing Usage with Machine Identities
There are currently millions of small-scale, decentralized RES, heat pumps, energy storage systems and electric vehicles underutilized and excluded from participation in energy markets. Digital machine identities can allow assets to decide automatically when to participate in markets and to what extent, based on user preferences. A small industrial electricity storage system can, for example, switch between self-consumption, grid-supporting measures, or wholesale participation within minutes. Technologies such as machine learning, 5G or blockchain are key enablers in the digitalization of electricity markets.
Our solutions are geared towards technical interoperability, the potential of data ecosystems, local energy markets and shaping future market design. We regularly support companies, policy makers and other stakeholders.