Recording of Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | The smarter E Europe | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 16:23 .

Zeppelin Advances Engine Efficiency and Sustainability with Hybrid Systems and Digital Innovations

Zeppelin, rooted in the legacy of Graf Zeppelin airships and based near Munich, specializes in power systems with a strong focus on combustion engines. As a sister company to ZF and formerly MTU, they provide engine solutions ranging from small generators to large CHP plants for various industries like railways. Despite their fossil fuel origins, Zeppelin acknowledges the shift towards electrification but prioritizes prime energy suppliers over battery-only solutions. They utilize telematics systems to monitor real-world operations such as energy consumption and demand fluctuations, addressing challenges like managing high peaks with low average demands that lead to inefficiencies and increased emissions. To mitigate these issues, hybridization strategies are employed by integrating smaller engines or battery storage alongside base load engines while using system analyzers for optimal component sizing based on data analysis. The development of digital twin models focuses on optimizing energy systems through modular designs adaptable without initial numerical specifics. These simulations use recorded load profiles for new installations; however inefficient performance is noted despite achieving some fuel reduction via auto-energy control methods initially involving two small engines operating when batteries deplete. Further efficiency improvements involve selecting suitable engine sizes or optimizing operation at peak loads while adjusting battery capacities according to changing profiles—yielding savings over time due to continuous monitoring by experienced technicians handling system health concerns. Future plans include expanding telematics capabilities toward sustainable green independent energy solutions incorporating wind/solar/water sources along with hydrogen storage management strategies aimed at grid stabilization through institutional collaboration insights from prime supplier perspectives.

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Speaker

Keno Leites
Head of Fuel Cell Competence Center
Zeppelin Power Systems GmbH
Germany

Talk of session: Energy Management Systems: Not Just For Battery Storage?

Battery storage systems consist of three main components: battery (including BMS), conversion unit (inverter), and controller (EMS). The EMS was used to simply calculate target values for the inverter, based on power meter readings, and to monitor inverters and battery's functionality. Today, it also controls or optimizes other devices in a local energy system, such as EV chargers and heat pumps. Modern EMSs optimize assets for multiple use cases (e.g., solar self-consumption, grid usage, dynamic tariffs). Learn more about the latest trends, including the use of AI in energy management systems for battery storage.

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker

Stefan Feilmeier
Deputy CEO
FENECON GmbH
Germany

To Talk

From PV to Profitable BESS: Revenue Stacking and Flex Loads

Speaker

Julie Horn
Senior Strategy and Business Development
Virya Energy
Germany

To Talk

Optimized Dispatch of Multi-Energy Systems with BESS - A Real World Implementation

Speaker

Lakshimi Narayanan Palaniswamy
Research Associate
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Germany

To Talk

Smarter Utilities: Unlocking Value with HEMS in Decentralized Energy Systems

Speaker

Tobias Mitter
Managing Director, CTO
gridX GmbH
Germany

To Talk

Key Learnings from P3's HEMS Benchmark on Optimization and Cost Effectiveness

Speaker

Florian Oest
Consultant
P3 automotive GmbH
Germany

To Talk