Logo of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
Into the Future with Metrology - The Challenges of Energy

Innovation Cluster for Energy

With the energy transition, Germany has set itself the goal of creating – within a few decades – a fundamentally new, sustainable, decentralized energy system with hardly any CO2 emissions. The change to this new system is one of the biggest challenges of our society. PTB, as the national metrology institute of Germany, wants to support all stakeholders – from the fields of industry and politics to consumers – in this endeavor. After all, reliable measurements are the prerequisite for safety, efficiency, and consumer protection.

PTB has already developed measurement and calibration capabilities in the fields of solar energy and wind power which, in part, are unique worldwide. However, a successful energy transition also requires powerful transmission and distribution grids, batteries and other storage elements, the development of hydrogen technologies as well as energy efficiency. Together with partners from industry, PTB’s scientists are also developing suitable measuring methods and standards in these fields of work. The focus is, in particular, on the coupling of energy sectors, on the stabilization of the electricity grid, and on hydrogen as an energy carrier. All this will play a key role in the energy system of the future.

In addition to all the challenges, the energy transition gives us the chance of becoming the stage for climate-friendly technologies that are “made in Germany”. This, however, can only succeed with excellent measurement technology. Excellent measurement technology is the key to protecting our environment and climate as well as to supplying energy that is secure, compatible with the environment, and cost-effective.

News (partly in German)

Since 1 August 2022, the DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH has reduced the object protection zones around its omnidirectional radio beacons. This represents further potential space for wind farms in Germany – an important contribution to the energy transition. PTB developed the key aspects within the scope of the research project WERAN (“interaction between wind turbines and terrestrial...

[ more ]

Real-time capable controlling and monitoring systems are necessary when it comes to ensuring the stability of future electrical distribution and transmission grids. Also required are meters that can accurately and with high temporal resolution measure energy flows that are relevant to energy billing. In the future, the measuring equipment needed for this purpose may be based on digital, i.e.,...

[ more ]

A town called Dorsten and located in the northern part of the Ruhr area is now home to a new high-pressure calibration facility for gas meters. Closed Loop Pigsar is the largest facility of its kind in Germany. It enables testing in a closed circuit and provides enhanced measurement capabilities. This facility is traceable to the national high-pressure cubic meter. The first tests for customers...

[ more ]
Windenergieanlagen

Riesige Zahnrad-Normale, topmoderne Wind-Lidar-Systeme, die größte Drehmoment-Normalmesseinrichtung der Welt, die bald ihren Betrieb aufnimmt – all dies und noch viel mehr stellt die Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) vom 27. bis 30. September auf der WindEnergy in Hamburg vor. Die PTB ist weltweit das einzige Metrologieinstitut, das der Windenergiebranche eine zuverlässige und umfassende...

[ more ]
More news

Wind and solar energy are the cornerstone of the energy transition. The following pages provide an overview of how PTB supports the regenerative generation of energy with research projects and services and which - partly world-leading - measurement technology it provides to industry.

  • Competence: Wind energy
  • Competence: Photovoltaics

[ more ]

In order to balance out the fluctuations in the generation of electricity caused by varying weather conditions, large energy storage systems will be required in the future. Also energy carriers are needed that make regeneratively generated energy available in all areas - keyword sector coupling. PTB offers in this field:

  • Competence: Battery research
  • Competence: Hydrogen technology
  • Competence: Gas measurement technology

[ more ]

In the future, electricity transmission and distribution systems will be subject to completely new requirements, including: many decentralized energy producers, weather-dependent yields, long transport distances, and a comprehensive charging infrastructure for electromobility. In addition to the creation of further transmission capacities through the expansion of lines, intelligent information and communication technology is necessary here in order to meaningfully network all energy producers and consumers. PTB is working on:

  • Smart meter gateways
  • Further development of relevant measurement technology
  • Charging facilities for electric vehicles 

[ more ]

Innovation Cluster for EnergyInnovation Cluster for Energy

Coordinators 

Dr. Fabian Plag
Member of the Presidential Staff
Phone: +49 531 592-2006
Opens local program for sending emailfabian.plag(at)ptb.de

Jantje Kalin
Phone: +49 531 592-2007
Opens local program for sending emailjantje.kalin(at)ptb.de

 

Members/Contact persons

Dr. Annette Röttger (Chair)
Member of the Presidential Board
Phone: +49 531 592-2000
Opens local program for sending emailannette.roettger(at)ptb.de

 

Dr.-Ing. Enrico Mohns
Head of Department 2.3 | Electrical Energy Measuring Techniques
Phone: +49 531 592-2300
Opens local program for sending emailenrico.mohns(at)ptb.de

 

Dr. Bernd Güttler
Head of Division 3 | Chemical Physics and Explosion Protection
Phone: +49 531 592-3010
Opens local program for sending emailbernd.guettler(at)ptb.de

 

Dr. Stefan Kück
Head of Division 4 | Optics
Phone: +49 531 592-4010
Opens local program for sending emailstefan.kueck(at)ptb.de

 

Dr. Steffen Rudtsch
Head of Department 7.4 | Temperature
Phone: +49 30 3481-7650
Opens local program for sending emailsteffen.rudtsch(at)ptb.de

 

Dr. Thorsten Schrader
Head of Division  1
Mechanics und Acoustics
Telefon: +49 531 592-1010
Opens local program for sending emailthorsten.schrader(at)ptb.de