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Issue 9-2025

Energy reimagined – resilient into the future

Christopher Weßelmann

The story of energy has always been one of transformation. From the first sparks of industrial power to the hum of electrified cities, energy has defined human progress. Yet never before has the question of how we generate, store, and distribute energy been so closely tied to resilience, sovereignty, and sustainability. To reimagine energy today means more than innovating technologically – it means redefining how societies sustain themselves amid accelerating change.

Resilience has become the defining principle of the modern energy landscape. Where efficiency and scale once reigned, adaptability now takes precedence. Climate volatility, geopolitical instability, and cyber-risks expose the fragility of systems optimised for steady-state operation. The energy systems of tomorrow must not only perform efficiently but withstand and recover from disruption. Resilience is no longer the opposite of efficiency – it is its evolution.

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Innovative approach for operation of turbines with one or more controlled extractions at the limits of the operating range

Wilfried Blotenberg

Steam Turbines with single or double extraction are typically controlled with a control concept where several process controllers are directly dedicated to each control task. Process controllers like live steam pressure controller, back pressure controller as well as turbine load controller act in series (cascade) mode on the speed controller and modulate the speed setpoint. Only one of these controllers can be in auto mode at a time, all other must be in manual mode. Speed controller and all extraction pressure controller work in parallel and modulate the steam turbine stage inlet control valves. They all must be in Auto mode to meet the process requirements. Unfortunately, these controllers interact one with each other and therefore need a decoupling approach. The paper describes an innovative approach which avoids these problems by design.

The advantages of ultrasonic measurement technology in detecting leaks in combustion power plants

Kevin Lang and Christian Probst

Rising demands for emission reduction in solid fuel power plants require precise and efficient methods for process monitoring. Ultrasonic testing devices can support a wide range of condition monitoring tasks in this context. One of the key challenges is the detection of leaks, as they often go unnoticed and can lead to false air intake and inefficient combustion. This paper demonstrates how ultrasound technology proves to be a reliable tool for locating various types of leaks, including vacuum, compressed air, and steam leaks. In addition to explaining the physical principles involved, the paper identifies common weak points within power plant systems. The article also discusses how ultrasound testing can be transferred to other types of power plants and provides practical guidance for integrating the method into existing maintenance processes.

Securing knowledge digitally – Rethinking maintenance: Mastering generational change with data intelligence

Stefan Kiene and Matthias Probst

The maintenance of technical systems is facing a radical change. In power plants, the loss of experience is being met by an increasing shortage of skilled workers – a risk for safety, efficiency and availability. But this is precisely where the opportunity to rethink maintenance lies: digital, intelligent and future-proof. This technical article highlights how modern maintenance software is becoming the central hub for data, knowledge and collaboration. Condition data is systematically collected, visualized and analyzed using AI-supported functions. This creates a digital image of the plant that not only creates transparency, but also enables targeted maintenance decisions – even for less experienced employees.

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The EPR2: A Short Presentation

Mykhaylo Gopych

On February 10, 2022, President Emmanuel Macron, during his visit in Belfort, unveiled his plans for France’s new energy strategy. His announcement concerning nuclear energy sector included the possibility to extend the lifetime of all reactors in service beyond 50 years as well as to construct six new reactors, with the option to add eight more by 2050. To modernize the part of France’s nuclear fleet in the frame of this ambitious program, EDF will set on the EPR2 design, an evolution of the EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) currently being commissioned at Flamanville (FA3). The EPR2 is a 4-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR) in the power range of 1600 MWe with a three-train architecture for the safety systems. The present article provides a short technical presentation of the EPR2 product with a focus on the nuclear island (NI).

Hot topic: low-maintenance, efficient pumps for power plants

Jens-Christian Poppe

When operating traditional power plants, the question of maintenance costs always arises: how can these be reduced without compromising the efficiency or reliability of the plant? The issue of maintenance costs becomes even more pressing when planning and constructing new power plants, as low-maintenance systems should ideally be integrated from the outset rather than trying to replace existing systems with low-maintenance solutions at a later date. In view of the new federal government‘s announcements regarding the construction of many new gas-fired power plants, this question is becoming even more urgent. A closer look at the problem of maintenance costs reveals that considerable savings can be achieved within the system technology, especially with regard to pumps.

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Forum Technology: Full speed ahead into the heating network

Tobias Boeckh

bioconstruct focuses on the efficient and sustainable use of renewable raw materials in biogas production. In 2024, a total of 23,000 tonnes of maize silage were ensiled, with every single maize plant completely chopped up. The mass came from agricultural land in the surrounding area and was delivered within three weeks from a catchment area of nine kilometres. The biogas produced consists of 52 % methane, 45 % CO2 and a small amount of oxygen. It is extracted from the fermenter via a compressor and processed for further energy use. The entire substrate flow is controlled by a precise, PLC-controlled pump system that optimises the operation of the plant.

Eurelectric: Presidency Manifesto 2025-2027
Powering a Competitive, Sustainable and Secure Europe

Eurelectric

Europe stands at a critical juncture shaped by several distinct and powerful forces. The Eurelectric Presidency Team is committed to advancing a forward-looking power industry that facilitates a competitive, sustainable and secure Europe. We focus on three strategic priorities: Customer-driven electrification to boost industrial competitiveness; Energy security and security of supply for resilience; and Digital transformation to prepare for the future.

DNV: Energy Transition Outlook 2025
A global and regional forecast to 2060

DNV

Ten years have passed since representatives from 196 nations signed the Paris Agreement. Since then, only six countries have reduced their emissions in line with their pledges, while the US has exited the Agreement, again. It is now widely acknowledged that the world will not achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This means warming will exceed 1.5 °C and then increase relentlessly until we reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero. Faced with these developments, a casual observer might conclude that the energy transition is stalled or in reverse. That is most definitely not the case. The energy transition is rolling on. DNV’s annual Energy Transition Outlook has, consistently, forecast a shift from today’s 80/20 fossil/non-fossil primary energy mix to a 50/50 mix by 2050. That is still our prediction this year, although some aspects of the transition are supercharged and progressing rapidly, while other aspects of the transition have hit turbulence and are delayed. This leads to a marginally slower transition than our forecast last year.

Offshore gas development as a key driver of global supply growth
GECF Gas Exporting Countries Forum

GEFC Gas Exporting Countries Forum

Rising global energy demand, coupled with the transition to cleaner-burning fuels, has cemented natural gas as a cornerstone of the global energy mix, owing to its broad availability, affordability, reliability and relatively lower emissions. A significant share of gas resources lies in offshore fields, where extensive, often untapped reserves provide opportunities to meet growing demand, diversify supply sources, and enhance energy security. At the same time, developing these resources entails unique challenges, including complex logistics, harsh marine conditions, and substantial environmental and financial considerations. As technology advances, the offshore natural gas sector stands at a pivotal juncture, shaping the trajectory of global energy. l

Editorial

Wess2000

Christopher Weßelmann

Editor in Chief vgbe energy

Energy reimagined – resilient into the future

Dear readers of the vgbe energy journal,

The story of energy has always been one of transformation. From the first sparks of industrial power to the hum of electrified cities, energy has defined human progress. Yet never before has the question of how we generate, store, and distribute energy been so closely tied to resilience, sovereignty, and sustainability. To reimagine energy today means more than innovating technologically – it means redefining how societies sustain themselves amid accelerating change.

Resilience has become the defining principle of the modern energy landscape. Where efficiency and scale once reigned, adaptability now takes precedence. Climate volatility, geopolitical instability, and cyber-risks expose the fragility of systems optimised for steady-state operation. The energy systems of tomorrow must not only perform efficiently but withstand and recover from disruption. Resilience is no longer the opposite of efficiency – it is its evolution.

Technology drives this transformation, but the deeper shift is systemic. Decentralized architectures, hydrogen economies, and intelligent networks are redefining how energy is produced and consumed. Artificial intelligence and digital twins already enable predictive maintenance, autonomous balancing, and cross-sector integration. Yet resilience depends as much on governance and human cooperation as on algorithms. Intelligent systems alone do not guarantee stability; ethical design, policy coherence, and transparent collaboration are equally essential.

Environmental integrity remains the foundation of resilience. Decarbonisation is vital, but the energy transition also reveals new dependencies – on rare materials, on weather variability, on global supply chains. A resilient energy future must therefore be circular as well as clean. It must anticipate scarcity, promote reuse, and strengthen local resources. True resilience is not merely about withstanding crises but thriving within planetary limits.

The geopolitical dimension is equally decisive. Recent shocks have underscored that energy is not just technical – it is strategic. Nations seek not only secure supplies but structural autonomy. Resilient systems must therefore combine self-reliance with smart interdependence: networks based on trust, transparency, and flexibility that can endure global disruptions. Energy independence in the 21st century is less about isolation than about resilient cooperation.

Reimagining energy also means reimagining roles. The transition ahead is not just industrial – it is cultural. Engineers, policymakers, and citizens must think beyond silos, recognizing the interdependence of technology, regulation, and human behaviour. The energy professional of the future must unite analytical precision with creative systems thinking. Education, too, must evolve to cultivate such interdisciplinary resilience.

To be resilient into the future is to accept uncertainty as constant. The infrastructures built today will face challenges we cannot predict: demographic shifts, material constraints, or disruptive innovations. Resilience is not about avoiding failure but about learning, recovering, and improving. Systems that can evolve technologically, socially, and ecologically will define the next era of progress.

Energy, reimagined, is no longer just a matter of supply and demand. It is a connective force – linking innovation with responsibility, and the local with the global. To build a resilient future is to recognize that energy is not only a commodity but a commitment: a promise to sustain life, not merely to power it. In keeping that promise, we shape both the future of energy and the energy of the future.