STORE · PROJEKTDETAILS
- Project Title: Grid stability through AI-driven energy system integration: Supermarkets as flexible prosumers
- Project Start: 2024
- Förderprogramm: Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP)
- Fördermittelgeber: BMWK – Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
- Projektleiter: Prof. Matthias Huber
- Ansprechpartner: Stefan Schneider
- Projektlaufzeit: 3 Years
- Cooperation partners:
- Institute of new Energy Systems (InES) – THI, Deutschland
- Steinbacher-Consult Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG – Deutschland
- FOSS (Research Centre for Sustainable Energy), University of Cyprus (UCY)
- LaRINa (Research Laboratory of Smart Grids and Nanotechnology),
Ecole Nationale des Sciences et Technologies Avancées à Borj Cédria (ENSTAB),
Université de Carthage
- Associated partners:
- Handelsverband Deutschland e.V.
- MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group GmbH
- Schwarz Corporate Affairs GmbH & Co. KG
- Wurm GmbH & Co. KG Elektronische Systeme
STORE · MOTIVATION & FOKUS
Motivation und Klimaziele
The challenges of climate change and its resulting consequences are motivating many countries to achieve the goal of climate neutrality. The countries of the European Union (EU) have committed to achieving this milestone by 2050. The implementation of this vision requires the use of innovative technologies, the integration of various renewable energies into the existing energy infrastructure, and the electrification of certain sectors. Reducing energy consumption and demand-driven distribution are also key aspects.
Fokus auf Supermärkte und E-Mobilität
The STORE project focuses on supermarkets, which consume 56% more electricity than the rest of the retail sector. In addition, the project focuses on the steadily increasing demand for energy and charging infrastructure due to e-mobility in recent years.
STORE · ZIELE
Zielsetzung: Entwicklung des SFEM
The overall goal of STORE is to develop an AI-based Smart Flexibility Energy Manager (SFEM). This innovative system will enable to integrate large-scale electric vehicle charging infrastructure into supermarket operations and to use electricity generated by the stores themselves from photovoltaic systems. The aim is to improve both grid stability and energy efficiency. In this context, supermarkets are seen as potential ‘filling stations of the future’. The energy management solution developed in the project will be systematically developed, technically and economically tested, and optimised specifically for this scenario. The project, which is being carried out in Cyprus, Germany, and Tunisia, is working with the different local conditions to develop a robust and transferable solution.
To achieve this goal, the project has set itself seven specific objectives
- Stabilisation of the power supply grid through AI-supported energy management
- Optimised distribution and storage of the electricity generated by the supermarket using photovoltaics
- Development of a holistic storage concept
- Creation of an innovative business model customised to the target group
- Development of an innovative data collection method for a high-quality data pool
- Implementation of the international approach through the applicability of the SFEM in different environmental conditions
- Capacity building of the parties involved through the exchange of international expertise from industry and science
STORE · SIMULATION & KOORDINATION
Daten, Simulationen und Koordination
The functions of the SFEM are designed to incorporate or support the achievement of these objectives. The data for the development of the SFEM will be collected during ongoing market operations and thus reflect reality. As part of this, a detailed market analysis will be carried out for the three countries to identify potential new sources of revenue in electromobility and electricity grids. This analysis will feed into the development of multi-layered business models. To ensure effectiveness, the real data will be combined with data from virtual simulations. SFEM’s energy management system will use advanced scientific methods to optimise load scheduling, energy storage, and flexibility services. A professional transfer concept will ensure communication at local, national, and international levels.
Within the overall project, Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) is responsible for coordinating the project network and thus plays a central role in planning, organization, and communication within the consortium.
STORE · COMPONENTS
Smart Flexibility Energy Manager (AI system)
KI-gestützte Steuerung aller Energieströme im System
- Herzstück der Steuerung
- Datenerhebung und -analyse in Echtzeit (PV-Erzeugung, Verbrauch, Preise, Netzzustand, Ladebedarf etc.)
- Entscheidungsfindung über Nutzung, Speicherung und Einspeisung
- Optimierung der Energieeffizienz und Netzstabilität
Supermarkt
Zentrale Energiezelle für Erzeugung, Verbrauch und Verteilung
- Nutzung des Standorts als Energiezelle mit vernetzten Funktionen: Hauptknotenpunkt für Energieverbrauch, -erzeugung und -verteilung
- Energieintensiver Verbraucher mit hohem Strombedarf (Kühlung, Beleuchtung, …)
Photovoltaik-Anlage
Erzeugung erneuerbarer Energie vor Ort
- Stromproduktion direkt am Supermarktstandort
- Reduktion der Netzabhängigkeit
- Einspeisung in das Energiemanagement über den SFEM
Batteriespeicher
Zwischenspeicherung zur Flexibilisierung und Versorgungssicherheit
- Speicherung überschüssige Energie (tagsüber bei PV-Überschuss, …)
- Bei Bedarf Bereitstellung von Energie
- Steuerung durch den SFEM zur Lastverschiebung
Ladeinfrastruktur für E-Mobilität
Intelligent vernetzte Ladepunkte für Kunden und Logistik
- Integration in das lokale Energiemanagement
- Nutzung von Eigenstrom aus PV und Speicher
- Steuerung und Priorisierung durch den SFEM
Stromnetz
- Duale Verbindung für Import und Export von Strom: Stromaufnahme bei Unterversorgung – Einspeisung von Überschüssen ins Netz
- Koordination des Energieaustauschs durch den SFEM
Datenanalyse & Marktanalyse
Systemoptimierung und Geschäftsmodellentwicklung
- Nutzt alle gesammelten Betriebsdaten:
Für Optimierung des Systems.
Zur Entwicklung neuer Geschäftsmodelle.
Analysen erfolgen länderübergreifend, um das System international nutzbar zu machen.
InES · THI, Germany
Institute of new Energy Systems (InES) is part of Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI). One of the core pillars of THI’s internationalization strategy is the cooperation with African countries which is strongly driven by InES: For more than 20 years, InES has successfully coordinated cooperation projects with a focus on local business partners as well as universities in Africa. With a total of seven projects implemented or ongoing to date, InES collaborated with various local and international industry partners so far – all of them in the sphere of applied RE technologies.
» InES · THI
LaRINa · Université de Carthage, Tunisia
LaRINa (Research Laboratory of Smart Grids and Nanotechnology) · Université de Carthage, Tunisia is XXXX
»LaRINa · Université de Carthage, Tunisia
Steinbacher-Consult · Germany
Steinbacher-Consult Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG · Germany is XXXX
»Steinbacher Consult · Germany
XXX · XXX, Zypern
XXX · XXX, Zypern is XXXX
»XXX · XXX, Zypern















06/2025 Energie trifft Intelligenz: STORE-Projekttreffen bei Steinbacher-Consult
Energie trifft Intelligenz Besuch und Ladeinfrastruktur im Fokus Am 05. Juni 2025 besuchte das Team des Instituts für neue Energie-Systeme (InES) der THI im Rahmen des Projekts STORE die Firma Steinbacher-Consult Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG in Neusäß. Steinbacher-Consult ist eine innovative Engineering-Consulting-Firma, deren einer Schwerpunkt im Bereich Energie und Elektromobilität liegt. Ziel des Projekts […]