© Photo by Martin Ebert
David E. Langer (birth name Stakic) was born in 1982 in Ulm. At the end of 2013, he obtained a Master of Science degree from Ulm University of Applied Sciences (THU) in Production Engineering and Organization with a focus on Energy Technology and Energy Economics. On the way there, he initially completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter, gained first professional experience as a furniture mechanic, completed training as a replenishment soldier, obtained his secondary school diploma and the advanced technical college certificate and finally began in 2006 a study at the HS-Ulm. After completing the Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), Mr. Langer began working as a laboratory engineer in the Laboratory for Decentralized Energy Systems at the Institute of Energy and Drive Technology at THU. After a short transitional period, he began parallel the cooperative Master's program SENCE (Sustainable Energy Competence). This is a cooperation study program between Ulm University of Applied Sciences, the Universities of Stuttgart and Rottenburg a. N.. Already at the beginning of the Master's program, the desire to pursue a career in researching the energy transition based on renewable energies developed. After completing his studies, Mr. Langer was able to work as a specialist for multi-energy-systems in the EU research project OrPHEuS at the THU. During this project, Mr. Langer was able to gain a doctoral supervisor at the Technical University of Budapest for his envisaged dissertation topic. Since then, he has been working on another research project at Ulm University of applied Science (funded by the BMWi, SINTEG Program "C/sells"), where he is responsible for organizing data on local flexibility in a cellular energy system in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.
In his leisure time David Langer likes model construction as well as assemble and paint miniatures in the field of science fiction and fantasy. He is also an ambitioned runner for distances up to 10 km.
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.