Workshop visit: Higher utilization of operating resources in the energy transition network

From 15 - 16 September 2025, the workshop "Higher utilization of operating resources in the energy transition grid" was held in Essen by the VDE Energy Technology Society (VDE ETG). The aim of the event was to identify ways of temporarily or permanently increasing the capacity utilization of transformers, overhead lines and cables in the existing grid - without jeopardizing the security of supply.

Doctoral students Fabian Bauer and Moritz Schwinghammer from the Department of Energy Use Optimization at TU Ilmenau took part. As our research focuses in particular on overhead lines and transformers, the workshop provided a valuable opportunity to exchange expertise and discuss current approaches. In addition to in-depth keynote speeches on the first day, the practical working groups on the second day provided deeper insights. Based on best practice examples, technical, organizational and legal approaches were discussed on how network bottlenecks can be managed in a targeted manner in the future.

The event opened up exciting perspectives for the efficient use of the existing grid infrastructure and provided numerous points of reference for our further research work.