MEP Energy Forum at TUM Sustainability Day connects practice and research

The event focused on the major challenges cities are facing today and in the years ahead. These include the provision of heating and cooling, rising energy demand, global energy crises and increasing pressure to design urban spaces that are both climate friendly and resilient. It quickly became clear that technical solutions alone are not sufficient. What is needed are new planning approaches, the targeted use of artificial intelligence and viable business models.

Perspectives on energy markets from research and practice

The forum opened with a keynote by Professor Sally Benson of Stanford University. Using the cooling infrastructure of the Stanford campus as an example, she illustrated how integrated energy systems, long term thinking and circular approaches can work together. Her presentation highlighted that sustainable energy infrastructure is not only a technical challenge, but also an organizational and strategic one.
The first thematic block focused on the question “Freedom or Friction? Liberalized Markets in the Energy Transition.” In short impulse talks, Professor Florian Bieberbach, Chief Executive Officer of Stadtwerke München (SWM), Christine Völzow, Managing Director and Head of Economic Policy at the Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e.V. (vbw), and Professor Thomas Hamacher, Director of MEP, presented different perspectives on market mechanisms, regulation and investment in the energy sector. The subsequent discussion made clear how complex the interaction between political frameworks, economic interests and technological options is, and how important coordinated solutions are for a successful energy transition.

Artificial intelligence and data driven approaches for the heat transition

The second part of the Energy Forum addressed the role of artificial intelligence under the title “Beyond the Hype? Quantifying AI’s Contribution to the Heat Transition.”
Professor Stefan Niessen, Head of the Technology Field “Sustainable Energy and Infrastructure” at Siemens, Lars Eiermann, Chief Sustainability Officer and Managing Director of the TUM Venture Lab Climate and Circular, and Nora Medgyesi, Project Lead at the Geothermal Alliance Bavaria, demonstrated where artificial intelligence is already making a measurable contribution. Examples included the optimisation of heating and cooling networks, improved use of geothermal potential and the development of new, scalable business models. At the same time, the discussion addressed existing limitations and the conditions required for AI to fully realise its potential.
 

The afternoon was moderated by Professor Jeanne Rubner. The discussions clearly showed that the transformation of urban energy systems can only succeed if technological innovation, economic incentives and societal acceptance are considered together. The Munich Institute of Integrated Materials, Energy and Process Engineering would like to thank all speakers, the moderator and the many participants for an open, engaging and inspiring exchange.
In addition, MEP was represented with an information stand on the ground floor of the Mechanical Engineering building, which attracted a large number of visitors throughout the day.

Picture: Dr. Céline Lauer / TUM