Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology
Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology

Grid Planning and Grid Operation

Our research question

How can energy grid infrastructures be designed and operated to ensure resilient, secure and cost-effective supply both now and in a future decarbonized energy system?

Our strengths

  • Grid analyses of entire grid areas
  • Automated grid planning
  • State estimation and optimization in grid management for all system services
  • Close cooperation with the University of Kassel, e²n department

Research topics

  • Automated grid planning and analysis
  • Automation of system management
  • Condition assessment and prognosis
  • Optimization of system management, eg.
    • Voltage stability / reactive power
    • Congestion management / redispatch
    • Grid reconstruction
    • Frequency maintenance
  • Analysis, evaluation and test methods (e.g. digital twins)
  • Co-simulation of the entire system
  • Analysis and optimization methods (e.g. data science, artificial intelligence)
  • Evaluation and improvement of reliability and resilience
  • Coupled network infrastructures (electricity, gas, heat, ICT, water)
  • Cross-grid coordination

Products and Services

Laboratories and Engin-
eering Environments

Projects and Publications

The focus of our analysis is the transformation process of energetic grid infrastructures (electricity, gas and heat) in the context of

  • decarbonization (energy transition through renewable energies, heat pumps and electric vehicles),
  • decentralization (many small plants in the distribution grid instead of large power plants in the transmission grid) and
  • digitalization.

To support this transformation, we are developing new methodologies and software solutions for grid analysis, planning and operations management.