The Fraunhofer ITWM at E-world Energy and Water 2025

Using AI, Digital Twins and Smart Algorithms to Achieve a Resource-Efficient Energy Industry

Press Release / January 23, 2025

Saving energy and using it sensibly – this goal runs through many projects at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM. In its projects, the institute is committed to making the generation, procurement and distribution of energy calculable. At E-world Energy and Water 2025 from February 11 to 13 in Essen, the institute will therefore be represented by three departments presenting their latest developments in the context of »energy«.

The teams from our »System Analysis, Prognosis and Control« and »Financial Mathematics« as well as from the division »High Performance Computing« are on site with these topics:

Artificial Intelligence for Resource-Efficient Plant Operation

At E-World, our team from the »System Analysis, Prognosis and Control« department will be presenting its latest developments for resource-efficient plant operation. Their monitoring systems with non-contact torque detection have been used in power plants for many years to detect critical torsional vibrations in the shaft trains resulting from interactions with the electrical grid. The team has now expanded the measuring system so that it can also determine the speed and angle of rotation.

At the trade fair, they will be presenting their demonstrator, which the researchers will use to simulate typical faults in drives and then show how they detect and analyze the faults using artificial intelligence. »Beyond the power plant sector, our systems are suitable in principle for torsion detection and analysis on drives with ferromagnetic shaft surfaces. In particular, our systems are an ideal extension of condition monitoring systems for many applications,« explains Dr. Andreas Wirsen, Head of the »System Analysis, Prognosis and Control« department.

Imaging Methods for Process and Product Monitoring

The demonstrator also illustrates how modern imaging processes can be used in the areas of condition monitoring, predictive maintenance and quality control. »Our imaging methods continuously monitor the processes during operation. They detect changes in product quality at an early stage, even before the fault tolerance is exceeded and the product is rejected,« says Wirsen.

By using innovative algorithms, the causes of deviations can be identified, which enables targeted measures to be taken. This not only leads to a reduction in rejects, but also minimizes downtime in the production process. In addition, the recording of energy consumption and the associated costs is included in the analysis. »This allows us to develop sustainable and resource-saving working methods that optimize production targets as well as the condition of the systems and energy use,« Wirsen continues.

Digital Twin Optimizes Processes in Combined Heat and Power Plants

Real-time condition monitoring, predictive maintenance and digitally optimized energy use: AI-supported technologies for plant operation help to plan energy requirements in advance and control them optimally. This is important for the Cologne-based energy supplier »RheinEnergie« in order to be able to offer customers an efficient, low-emission and cost-saving energy supply.

In joint projects, our researchers have optimized heat generation by heating plants for local heating networks for RheinEnergie with the help of a digital twin and intelligent control. This significantly saves primary energy without jeopardizing the security of supply. »Our team provided RheinEnergie with comprehensive support, from the development of the methods to the integration of hardware and software in the control cabinet,« explains Dr. Christian Salzig, Team Leader »Digital Twins and Predictive Control« at Fraunhofer ITWM. Our researchers will be presenting the project at E-world Energy and Water.

Block-Heizkraftwerk in Köln Merheim — © RheinEnergie AG
RheinEnergie AG combined heat and power plant in Cologne Merheim.

Intelligent Management System for the Energy Transition

The »High Performance Computing« division »Green by IT« team is working on the management of the energy transition. Among other things, the researchers will be demonstrating at the trade fair how they are further increasing energy efficiency for the Dutch energy community »Schoonship«, consisting of 30 floating houses north of Amsterdam. Using innovative technologies, they predict electricity consumption and production, implement optimizations and realize trading transactions on various energy markets. The Fraunhofer ITWM has succeeded in positioning the energy community as a flexible virtual power plant that is capable of both supplying and absorbing energy.

Mathematical Algorithms for the Energy Market

The »Financial Mathematics« department will be presenting innovative projects with a focus on »Energy Markets«. In view of the changes in electricity pricing and the energy market environment as a whole, the researchers are demonstrating how the electricity procurement strategy can be dynamically optimized using specially developed stochastic electricity price models.

The »FlexEuro« project focuses on the optimization of bids for a virtual battery across various short-term markets. Of course, the associated schedule is also calculated and its restrictions included in the optimization. The researchers also provide insights into the »EnerQuant« project, which aims to solve large energy industry models. As part of this project, the researchers developed advanced algorithms for qubit-based quantum computers and quantum simulators in order to efficiently analyze and solve a fundamental energy industry model with stochastic influencing variables.

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Power Generation and Distribution

The department »System Analysis, Prognosis and Control« deals with the monitoring and control of energy networks and the energy efficiency of consumers.

Green by IT

The team »Green by IT« in the division »High Performance Computing« is involved in researching and developing innovative technology concepts for the use of renewable energy.

Flexible Loads on the Energy Market

Flexible loads will become more important in the energy system of the future. The department »Financial Mathematics« is developing new solutions for this.

Press Release

The Fraunhofer ITWM at E-world Energy and Water 2025

Using AI, Digital Twins and Smart Algorithms to Achieve a Resource-Efficient Energy Industry

Artificial Intelligence for Resource-Efficient Plant Operation

Imaging Methods for Process and Product Monitoring

Digital Twin Optimizes Processes in Combined Heat and Power Plants

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Further Information

Intelligent Management System for the Energy Transition

Mathematical Algorithms for the Energy Market

Download Section

Power Generation and Distribution

Green by IT

Flexible Loads on the Energy Market

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Dr. Andreas Wirsen

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Dr. habil. Jörg Wenzel

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M.Sc. Matthias Klein-Schlößl

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M.A. Swenja Broschart