Innovation Awards
The vgbe Innovation Award from the vgbe RESEARCH FOUNDATION has been presented for over 30 years and honours young talent in the categories “Application” and “Future” for outstanding innovative achievements in electricity and heat generation as well as energy storage. The prize is endowed with a total of 10,000 euros.
This year, the award went in equal parts to Dr Lucas Koltermann (category “Application”) and Dr Marius Neuwirth (category “Future”):
Lucas Koltermann examined in his dissertation, “Analysis and Optimisation of the Reliability and Efficiency of Hybrid Battery Storage Systems Using the Example of M5BAT”, as well as in his practical work on large-scale battery storage systems, issues relating to condition analysis, reaction speed, efficiency and energy management. The M5BAT project, which combines five different battery technologies and is actively marketed in the German electricity grid, offered unique research conditions for this purpose. The results achieved are of great interest to operators and manufacturers of battery storage systems in order to further improve the reliability and cost-effectiveness of these systems.
Marius Neuwirth developed in his dissertation a site-specific model for simulating investment decisions and transformation paths of energy-intensive industries (steel, chemicals, cement) towards climate-neutral processes. His research shows that new hydrogen, CO₂ and electricity infrastructures as well as detailed spatial planning are essential for a successful transformation. In addition, natural gas direct reduction is highlighted as a bridging technology, while CO₂ prices have only a limited effect. The industry will only remain competitive if hydrogen prices remain below €60/MWh. Marius Neuwirth’s work provides valuable insights for transformation and investment decisions.
Quality Award
In addition to the Innovation Awards, the equally prestigious vgbe Quality Awards were also presented. Three projects were honoured here for their innovative solutions to improve quality, safety and sustainability in electricity and heat generation.
GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service GmbH Award Winner
As part of its fleet programme, PreussenElektra GmbH commissioned a consortium consisting of GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service mbH and Höfer & Bechtel GmbH to dismantle the KKG reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and package it for final storage in the Konrad mine. The RDB cylinder, dome and cover were segmented using specially developed processes and dismantled into container-compatible units.
GNS was nominated on the basis of its successful transfer of the knowledge gained in the pilot project at the Unterweser nuclear power plant to the plant at the Grafenrheinfeld site, despite parallel project phases and high technical requirements.
Thanks to integrated organisation, trained personnel and innovative cutting technology, the work was even completed ahead of schedule and within the planned budget.
Fuel conversion at EnBW’s Heilbronn power plant through a combined cycle power plant with combined heat and power generation
SOCOTEC Ingenieure AG honoured for civil engineering services/reinforced concrete structures at the Heilbronn power plant site
EnBW plans to replace the existing coal-fired power plant at its Heilbronn site with a modern, highly efficient combined cycle power plant with combined heat and power (fuel switch) generation in order to implement its corporate strategy of achieving climate neutrality by 2035.
The new power plant will be supplemented by a hot water boiler system and a heat storage facility to secure the district heating supply.
While the general contractor is responsible for the plant technology, the challenging concrete structures were awarded directly by EnBW due to difficult soil conditions, high groundwater levels and complex static and dynamic requirements. Particular challenges lie in the foundation planning, the static design of the steel structures as well as the precise and economical dimensioning of the machine foundations.
SOCOTEC Ingenieure AG was nominated for the vgbe Quality Award because of its wide-ranging expertise in structural and project planning, digital working methods for the planning, construction and operation of buildings (BIM), water protection (AwSV) and the planning and construction of water-impermeable concrete structures (WU). In addition, SOCOTEC has in-depth expertise in power plant construction, which was required for this project.
SOCOTEC proved to be a reliable and pragmatic partner throughout the entire project, which was reflected in excellent communication, documentation and organisation, as well as successful troubleshooting on site and off site, resulting in rapid construction progress.
Decommissioning of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and its internals at the Grundremmingen nuclear power plant
Norbert Braun Industrieservice GmbH received the vgbe Quality Award for reliable, punctual and flexible project management
Before the actual dismantling of the RPV and its internals could begin, 640 tonnes of concrete had to be removed, which was distributed over a total of four shielding and four cover plates to minimise radiation exposure to personnel working on site during power operation.
The concrete slabs, weighing between around 126 tonnes and approx. 55 tonnes, were located above the flood room and above RDB and settling basin on the +40.5 m level in unit B.
Norbert Braun Industrieservice GmbH, commissioned with the dismantling, was nominated for the vgbe Quality Award because, despite difficult circumstances that arose during the construction site set-up (enclosure of the workplace), the company impressed with its flexibility, adherence to deadlines and early completion of the RDB-E Lot 4.4 project, despite project changes and interruptions.
The decisive factors were initiative, simple acceleration measures and close coordination with all relevant parties, which prevented delays in the entire project. Overall, the company impressed with its holistic approach to quality, efficient and safe concrete demolition, and systematic “lessons learned” that are highly transferable to other dismantling projects.
