3FOOD

Third Industrial Revolution Consulting Group
Autonomous Regional Energy Clusters
The energy system 2050 will be predominantly organized by autonomous regional
energy clusters. Within the clusters, smart local microgrids allow the exchange of
data and energy among the different prosumers, aiming at an efficient intra-cluster
demand side management. Small decentralized production units based on
renewable energy sources provide electricity to the prosumer. Electricity links to
other regional clusters are needed in case the local balancing cannot accommodate
the ‘domestic’ energy demand/supply. If available and economically sound, heat
and/or cold exchange within a cluster (for instance based on waste heat from
industry) can contribute to the diversification of the cluster portfolio. Thus, local
heat and existing gas grids could remain, at least in part, to provide energy for
existing buildings. Finally, the concept of autonomous clusters can also be
understood independently from geographical proximity via the creation of Internetbased
‘virtual’ clusters.
ICT Infrastructure Crucial at all Levels of the “Target Energy System 2050”
ICT infrastructure represents the backbone of the future energy system. Centralized,
distributed, and decentralized data storage centers as well as data grid and metering
infrastructure are the basis of intra- and inter-exchange of energy and data by the
autonomous clusters.
Interconnection of the Regional Energy Clusters
Transport and balancing electricity grids connect regional clusters with the industrial
sector, large production units, energy storage facilities as well as other regional
clusters.
Reliance on Imports
The “Target Energy System 2050” implies a further reliance on energy import. In
particular, gas and its infrastructure will remain an element of the energy system of
the future: a) on a general level for the industrial sector (and maybe the distance
transport sector) and b) possibly as energy storage (by converting surplus electricity
produced from renewable energy sources into gas).
Finally, in order to quantify the transformation path towards the envisioned energy system
2050, the Working Group agreed on the following objectives for 2025, 2040 and 2050:
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