© Photo by Martin Ebert
David E. Langer (née Stakic) was born in Ulm in 1982. At the end of 2013, he obtained a Master of Science degree from the Technical University of Ulm (THU). On the way there, he completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter, gained his first professional experience in the field as a furniture assembler, completed training as a supply soldier, obtained a secondary school diploma and a university of applied sciences entrance qualification, and finally began studying at the THU in 2006. He initially completed this with a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in the production technology and organization course with a focus on energy technology and energy economics. Immediately afterwards, Mr. Langer began working as a laboratory engineer in the Decentralized Energy Systems Laboratory at the Institute for Energy Technology and Energy Economics at the THU. After a short transition period, he began the cooperative master's program SENCE (Sustainable Energy Competence) part-time, conducted at the THU, Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences and Rottenburg a.N. University of Applied Sciences for Forestry. Right at the beginning of his master's degree, he developed the desire to help shape the development of the energy transition based on renewable energies in a professional career. After successfully completing his studies, Mr. Langer was able to work in the EU research project OrPHEuS at the THU as a specialist in the field of sector coupling. During this project, Mr. Langer was able to gain a commitment at the Technical University of Budapest for his dissertation topic. In 2019, thanks to a successful application for a scholarship from the Reiner Lemoine Foundation (RLS), Mr. Langer was able to start working on the content of his dissertation topic part-time. Until the end of September 2020, he was working at THU on another research project (BMWi, SINTEG program, C/sells), where he was responsible for organizing data for local flexibility in a cellular energy system, with the principle of subsidiarity. In October 2020, he was able to combine the content of his dissertation topic with his professional duties at the distribution network operator Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm Netze GmbH, in a position as asset manager with a focus on pipe grids. In 2023, Mr. Langer was appointed to the role of expert for pipe grids, which he still holds today. Since the end of 2024, Mr. Langer has been pursuing his doctorate as part of the doctoral association of the universities of applied sciences in Baden-Württemberg at THU.
Because of the transmission of the energy system in Germany small (<100 kW) energy generators provide a significant share in the electrical energy sector. This share is growing constantly over the years. The infrastructure of cities is highly suitable for a decentral energy generation. In addition, decentral devices are also able to deliver a significant part of flexibility. In cities we often face additional energy infrastructures, like district heating and already available gas grids. They enable storage capacities and close to load distribution of energy. A contemplation of the different energy sectors together allows to use these benefits via the available infrastructure. For future development this may become even more attractive if photovoltaics (PV) and combined-heat-and-power (CHP) systems will be installed for electrical generation. Roof areas in cities will deliver space for PV systems without competition to agriculture areas. Power-to-gas (PtG) systems can close the gap between the electrical energy generation from PV and the needed fuel for the CHP. All together this will enable a situation that allows Europe's cities to reduce national dependency from fossil fuels, reducing costs for reinforcement of energy infrastructure and stop the ongoing climate heating process.
The relationship between the different energy sectors will be analysed using a co-simulation approach, based on grid data from the real grid of the city of Ulm. Scenarios considering e.g. future technological development, technology mix and climate change will deliver key performance indicators for grid planning of the energy infrastructure of a city. This work can be done within the framework of a cooperation with the local municipal public service at Ulm.