Team
The research group Modelling seeks to develop a holistic understanding of energy systems. The research scope encompasses various (sub)systems which may differ substantially in size, energy carriers, and governance structure. Two research questions are of particular focus here: What does the 'ideal' energy system of the future look like? Which concepts are suitable to support the transition there? The group is equally interested in investigating tiny decentralized urban quarters, large industrial clusters and their potential integration with regional energy systems, and transnational transition pathways towards a de-fossilized and resilient future. The group proposes scientific methodologies, operational concepts and policy recommendations which ultimately aim at making the necessary transition of the energy system more efficient, resilient, and sustainable.
This subgroup develops integrated digital decision support environments based on digital twin platforms to enable data-driven decision-making in industrial decarbonization and energy transition. It addresses how interoperable digital twins can integrate heterogeneous data, multi-scale socio-technical models, stakeholder knowledge, and resilience metrics into coherent, dynamic, and semantically consistent decision-support systems. Acting as an integration hub, it combines inputs from stakeholder analysis, modeling approaches, and resilience assessments, harmonized through standardized data models, semantic ontologies, and interoperable interfaces. The resulting digital twin supports simulation, scenario exploration, and visualization, while providing feedback by identifying data gaps, supporting model validation, and enhancing communication among researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders.
The Networks and Stakeholder Engagement (NES) group focuses on the design and research of participatory processes throughout the transition process. A key part of our work is identifying relevant stakeholders for local transformation processes and understanding their relationships, perspectives, and decision-making criteria. Building on this, we design and facilitate participatory and transdisciplinary interactions, workshops, and events. Our work serves as a connection to industry, politics, and society, and as an internal research catalyst, helping to focus on what is most relevant for enabling resilient planning. NES also investigates how stakeholder involvement can be designed in a meaningful and effective way across the transition process, as well as the role of stakeholders and their networks. We use a range of methods, including action research, surveys, interviews, and agent-based models.
The Resilience and Transition Management research subgroup bridges resilience theory and sustainability transitions, aiming to develop effective management strategies for complex socio-technical systems in transition. By integrating socio-ecological resilience with multi-level governance, we examine how coordinated, adaptive, and participatory approaches strengthen local energy transitions. Through qualitative analysis of regional policy and regulatory frameworks, we uncover strategies that enhance system robustness against shocks, such as geopolitical tensions or economic disruptions, supporting more sustainable, resilient, and equitable energy futures.
