The most recent Energy Efficiency Hack 2020 (#eehack2020) gathered over 160 people from various time zones for two days to tackle energy efficiency challenges.
When it comes to the energy transition, exciting new technology or policy interventions tend to dominate the media. As a result, we often forget about the critical reduction of energy demand. However, as in the German energy transition – named “Energiewende” – all possible scenarios include a demand reduction of at least 50%. In order to reduce the demand of energy in the heating, electricity, and transportation sectors, increases in energy efficiency are necessary.
The German Business Association for Energy Efficiency (DENEFF e.V.) consists of 180+ companies with the motto “put energy efficiency first”. This includes small start-ups to multinational companies such as Siemens (with whom EIT InnoEnergy organises a yearly challenge for students of the Master’s in Energy Technologies), E.ON, Danfoss, and Schneider Electric. DENEFF were the organisers behind the #eehack2020, seeking to capture students’ creativity and innovation to come up with energy efficient solutions.
Create Innovative E-Mobility Services
The Hack consisted of three challenges:
- Challenge #1, sponsored by Danfoss, to “Fight Climate Change Today by Creating the Carbon Neutral Office Building of Tomorrow”
- Challenge #2, sponsored by Engie, to “Create Innovative Corporate E-Mobility Services to Drive Zero Carbon Transition in Transportation”
- Challenge #3, sponsored by KSB, “Make a Factory Hyper Energy Efficient with the Power of Your Smartphone”
I tackled Challenge #2. As an EIT InnoEnergy student in the Master’s in Smart Electrical Networks and Systems, I have studied the importance of electrification of the transportation sector in the energy transition and its corresponding impacts. Increasing penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) will increase electricity demand, conflicting with demand reduction goals.
In Germany, various tax subsidies and incentives offer enticing benefits for people to switch to EVs. In fact, many employees are pressuring companies to offer EVs as a company car. However, as this is an emerging concept, companies face many barriers and have many questions such as: How should corporate EV fleets be managed? Is the company responsible for charging services as well? Is any additional technology required?
Easy integration of EVs in the workplace
My team and I proposed greeNGie, a B2B service which would allow for the easy integration of EVs in the workplace. The key enabler of this service was an app which companies could purchase and use to monitor their EV fleets. To hear our full concept, check out our video submission here.
Video submission? Yes, this was no ordinary hackathon, where the solution is presented in a PowerPoint presentation – all teams in each of the three challenges were required to submit a two-minute video about their solution. This was a fun, unique way to present our ideas.
At first, I was daunted to work with ten people in a Zoom call. However, as this Hack is popular with EIT InnoEnergy Master’s students, my team ended up being composed of many of my friends and classmates. The few people I had not known before were soon my friends, having been brought together through our shared passion for decarbonisation. By this point in 2020, we were experts in virtual collaboration; we used Zoom breakout rooms and Miro boards to efficiently organise our energy efficiency ideation.
Valuable new perspectives
Through participating in this Hack, I gained valuable new perspectives; I had not spent much time thinking through the details of implementation of EVs before. However, it is in these details that the Energiewende will be accomplished!
Want to be a part of sustainable mobility innovations? Why not join InnoTalks Q&A: Master’s in Smart Electrical Networks and Systems webinar to meet its Programme Director who will address all your questions ranging from course details to career opportunities after graduation!
Date: 11 February
Time: 16.00 CET
Sign up here