cells4.energy – Regional energy cells as multi-energy real-world laboratories for rapid system transition

To achieve political goals like 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% renewable total energy by 2040, we must accelerate the development and expansion of innovative technologies, such as system integration and flexibility creation. cells4.energy uses real-world laboratories to test and implement these innovations more quickly. The project covers six different regions and requirements, and validates model solutions and technologies for practical suitability.

The real-world laboratories realistically simulate future situations in the energy system, such as low-temperature district heating in combination with waste heat utilization and sector coupling. Interacting components and system elements in the real-world laboratories create new cross-element functions (e.g., flexibility) in the energy system.

The Cells4Energy project is developing a scalable, easily transferable energy cell concept that covers the entire energy value chain, from generation and storage to transport and use. The technical, regulatory, economic, and social aspects of this cell approach are being analyzed.

The flagship project, cells4.energy, will collaborate with the parallel Innovation Laboratory, Act4.Energy, to establish real-world laboratories and map various system and technology developments within them. The project’s goal is to establish the conditions necessary for developing and demonstrating a regional, digital, cross-sector renewable energy system that includes electricity, heat, green gas, and mobility. The model solution, a cell concept, is intended to provide a basis for implementing the energy transition and to be replicable in other regions.

As part of the project, a real-world laboratory will be established in eastern Austria to carry out demonstration and pilot projects for regional energy systems and communities. This laboratory will test various technologies and systems from technical, economic, and social perspectives. These include innovative local heating networks and regional heating associations; control concepts for system services through energy cells; coordinated charging concepts; hybrid power plants with hydrogen solutions; and comprehensive end-customer integration. The establishment of the real-world laboratory will also enable the development of pilot projects for the digitalization and Internet of Things (IoT) integration of energy systems. A data management system will be developed for regional energy management.

Desired results and findings

The project aims to develop model solutions that can be replicated in future innovation processes relating to the energy transition or that can accelerate these processes. Specifically, the project is expected to deliver the following results:

1. A practical concept for energy cells that is scalable and replicable;
2. The development and standardization of market-ready concepts, financing solutions, and investment models together with future investors in energy cells.n
3. Three prototype cells and three energy cells for efficient and rapid testing of new technologies and systems in a real-world laboratory setting

The following systemic and technological innovations are to be developed therein:

1. A prototypically tested concept for thermal energy communities, which also work in combination with energy communities in the electricity sector and integrate various sources (geothermal energy, biomass, electricity, waste heat) and storage facilities;
2. A proof of concept for the operation of network- and system-friendly virtual power plants
3. Validated solutions for inverters with grid-forming functions
4. A proof of concept for a resilient hybrid power plant with sustainable hydrogen production
5. A tested concept for the coordinated and automated charging of electric vehicles with user interaction
6. Determining the effectiveness of user interventions via an app in terms of energy efficiency and energy savings

Implementing energy cells at the regional level will generate long-term growth prospects for these technologies, products, processes, and services. The chosen transferable system approach pays particular attention to the scalability of solutions, making it possible to disseminate regional solutions nationally and internationally as blueprints or narratives. This step is important for increasing the visibility of regional Austrian technologies and raising public awareness of the benefits of these solutions.