New energy transition project: AGil develops future model for decentralized energy supply in southern Lower Saxony
Prof. Dr. Simon Fink is part of an interdisciplinary project that will explore the possibilities of a decentralized energy transition over the next three years. In his political science subproject, he is investigating which political framework conditions can promote or hinder a decentralized energy transition.
Rural areas will play a central role in the future supply of renewable energies. They offer space for PV and wind power plants. However, in order to fully exploit their potential, the infrastructure must be expanded. The AGil project aims to determine how this can be profitable for distribution network operators and consumers alike.
AGil stands for actor-stimulating and sector-coupling business models for municipal utilities in rural areas. Based on a resolution by the German Bundestag, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is funding the project with a total of €1.2 million for three years starting on September 1.
The aim is to develop innovative business models for municipal energy suppliers and distribution network operators in order to make surplus electricity from wind and solar power usable locally. A key component of this is the integration of hydrogen technologies: instead of exporting electricity at negative prices, it is to be converted into hydrogen and stored locally.
Against this backdrop, AGil is investigating how decentralized, intelligent control of the power grids can be combined with storage solutions.