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Holistic approaches to optimizing integrated energy management

Published: November 2025

Holistic approaches to optimizing integrated energy management rely on innovative technologies such as energy storage (e.g., compressed air systems) and the multiple conversion of various energy forms to maximize energy efficiency and sustainability. Through synergistic concepts that combine CO₂ reduction, data analysis, 3D city models for photovoltaic potential assessment, and energy-efficient renovation, these approaches strive for nearly self-sufficient systems and microgrids to promote independence and sustainable energy management. This requires extensive and interconnected information – from consumption data and building structures to regional grid capacities. Providing such data requires innovative IT solutions that create the necessary transparency and enable informed planning for integrated energy management systems.

Guiding questions

  • How can the potentials of different forms of energy be bundled in a flexible system to minimize energy losses?
  • Which technologies are most promising for scalable and sustainable energy storage in integrated systems?
  • How could storage be anchored in urban planning and infrastructure to offer maximum flexibility and availability?
  • How can the efficient use of real-time data optimize CO₂ management of buildings and urban infrastructures?
  • How can energy systems be designed to be resilient to external crises while ensuring a flexible supply?

Challenges

Advances in energy storage, such as compressed air and battery storage, are important to make renewable energy sources flexibly available. This must be cost-efficient and environmentally friendly scalable to smooth out fluctuating energies. The parallel use and conversion of multiple forms of energy in industrial and urban applications requires high technical coordination and adapted infrastructures to minimize energy losses and leverage synergies. Data-based management of building emissions and consumption enables precise optimization and a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions. However, the collection and analysis of real-time data places high demands on IT infrastructure and data protection.

Concrete examples

  • Compressed air and battery storage
  • Real-time analysis and control of energy flows and emissions
  • Climate-neutral neighborhood solutions through the combination of solar systems, heat pumps, and battery storage
  • Use of waste heat from production plants for feeding into heating networks

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Reference

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Reference

Michel Reichardt

Michel Reichardt Project Manager Strategic Foresight

Christoph Grollman

Christoph Grollman Project Manager Strategic Foresight

Dr. Sophia Gänßle

Dr. Sophia Gänßle Project Manager Data Science Strategic Foresight

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