Energy: Security of supply and efficiency

Europe is in an energy crisis. Gas and electricity shortages require the whole of society to reduce energy consumption and to develop technologies that can provide secure and efficient energy supply.

Picture of wind turbines at sea. Denmark recieves more and more sustainable energy from e.g. offshore wind turbines. — Denmark recieves more and more energy from e.g. wind turbines and solar cells. This has implications for how security of supply must be handled, as it is difficult to predict the production from these energy sources.

More than a thousand DTU researchers are working on a solution. They are developing new technologies for production of liquid fuels—Power-to-X—from wind turbines, sun, and biogas, and they are conducting research into how to protect these energy sources from unwanted attacks.

We have asked the researchers some of the hot questions about energy. We have also requested them to give science’s answers to the challenges that we are facing here and now and to provide their suggestions for the energy supply of the future.

Denmark gets more and more of its energy from, for example, wind turbines and solar cells. This is of importance to how security of supply is to be handled, as it is difficult to predict production from these energy sources.

Energy

When will Power-to-X come to fruition?

The development of Power-to-X, where power from renewable energy sources is converted into hydrogen or other green fuels, has already come a long way, but it will take a few years before we achieve large-scale production.

Nuclear Power

Is nuclear power an option?

Nuclear power in Germany and France supplies electricity to Denmark, but a nuclear power plant in Denmark will not be ready until the 2030s at the earliest.

Natural gas

Upgraded biogas to replace natural gas

The natural gas network in Denmark will in a few years supply Denmark with both methane produced from biogas and with hydrogen from power-to-x plants, assesses associate professor at DTU Philip Fosbøl.

Energy

Should we share our energy with neighboring countries?

Energy of the future will come from multiple energy sources overseen as part of a regional collaboration.

Energy Systems

Should our energy system be digital?

Professor Henrik Madsen estimates that digitization and flexibility, which are two crucial ingredients in the future energy system, are already possible to a large extent and can help us in the current energy crisis.

Sustainability

Do we have room for sustainability in the midst of an energy crisis?

Denmark has a special responsibility to deliver solutions that are scalable and make significant contributions to helping the world transition to sustainability, according to DTU Professor Michael Hauschild.

Articles about DTU's energy research

The need for charge points for electric vehicles will rise dramatically in the future

If Denmark is to reach the goal of one million electric vehicles on the roads in 2030, the number of charging stations will have to keep up. DTU has created a calculation tool that enables cities and municipalities to analyze how many charge points they will need in the future.

Model system used to conduct experiments that simulate flow conditions in pipes.

Timely cleaning of heat exchangers significantly reduces energy consumption

As fouling occurs in heat exchangers at Denmark’s combined district heating plants, their ability to transfer heat deteriorates. New research from DTU can be used to pinpoint the right time to remove fouling and thereby avoid large energy losses and unnecessary use of environmentally harmful chemicals for cleaning.

Solar cells do not have to be black. And they can become part of the house façades of the future

Solar panels with different colours can be integrated in the façades of buildings and become an aesthetically exciting part of the architecture. DTU collaborates with façade contractor HSHansen to document the effect of different-coloured photovoltaic elements.

With a heat pump connected to DTU's data center, Esben Højrup and Bjarke Nonbøl from DTU Campus Service utilize waste heat from cooling servers. The heat pump supplies heat to the district heating network on Risø Campus.

Heat from supercomputers recycled at DTU

A project at DTU Risø Campus shows that heat recovery is the most sustainable and economical choice—even at a time of rising electricity prices.

Sune Thorsteinsson foran bygningsintegrerede solcellepaneler

Make better use of buildings in the green transition

Solar cells on roofs and facades of buildings have real potential, which until now has been underestimated.

Powerful sludge

Danish wastewater treatment plants are some of the most sustainable in the world. Not only do they produce electricity and heat from the wastewater they also extract nutrients from the sludge as a resource. A DTU PhD project helps them assess which technologies are most climate neutral.

Offshore wind power is not yet a sure success

We currently lack knowledge on a number of points which are completely crucial if we are to avoid the expansion with the energy islands ending up being misconceived from the outset, writes Professor Jacob Østergaard and Head of Division Kenneth Thomsen.

Offshore windmills in the North Sea. (Photo: Colourbox)

Energy islands may become the happy ending to energy crisis

Part of the Government’s plan to make Denmark independent of Russian gas is to speed up the establishment of the energy islands. To provide a happy ending, this requires prioritization of research, writes Professor Jacob Østergaard in a column.

In a new energy initiative, the government is planning a green transformation of industry in Denmark. It can be done, but requires solutions that are thought through, writes Professor Brian Elmegaard in a debate post. (Photo: Colourbox)

Electrification of industry is possible, but must be smart

A green transformation of the industry is possible, but there’s a long way to go frem the technological possibility to the industrial reality, writes Professor Brian Elmegaard in a debate column.