Welcome to the Research Group Resilient Energy Systems

Information about the Research Group for Resilient Energy Systems

The research conducted by the Resilient Energy Systems research group focuses on examining and supporting transformation processes in the future energy system.

One key focus is on the concept of transformative resilience - the ability to use profound changes or disruptive events in the energy system as an opportunity to shape sustainable and robust structures. In this context, we develop approaches to create less vulnerable systems - not only as a reaction to such disruptions but also proactively through early strategic planning. Another main area of our work is data-driven analysis of sociotechnical vulnerabilities and risks, as well as model-based foresight of future scenarios for urban and industrial infrastructures.

We develop tools for energy system modeling and optimization, as well as digital planning tools, to simulate the impact of various measures on resilience and sustainability in the energy system. Together with transformation actors beyond research, we create well-founded decision-making bases for the complex transformation of the energy system. With the help of urban twins, we provide promising starting points to capture complex interconnections and support transformation actors in intricate decision-making processes.

The Virtual Transformation Lab (VTL) offers an environment where these topics can be collaboratively shaped with different stakeholder groups. The VTL provides both traditional analog and digital interactive tools (LED wall & touch tables) to optimally support different phases of transformation processes. As part of the Digital Hub Industry in the NEOS building at the University of Bremen's Technology Park, the department is optimally networked with research and industry partners.

As a member of the artec Research Center for Sustainability at the University of Bremen, the department is embedded in the research focus "Sociotechnical Systems and Sustainability." Additionally, the group is part of the Bremen Research Center for Energy Systems "Energy for Economy and Society" (BEST).

Members of this research group come from mechanical engineering, process engineering, biology, physics, and social sciences; they collaborate in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects.

A new paper by Cosme Polese Borges published in Renewable Energy.

FGRES research fellow Cosme Polese Borges recenty published an article titled “Beyond payback time: Understanding residential preferences for distributed solar PV in southern Brazil” in Renewable Energy. The paper, co-authored by Brazilian (Federal University of Santa Catarina) and North American (Michigan State University) researchers, uses a discrete choice experiment and demonstrates that non-financial factors such as installation warranties, technical assistance, and access to decentralized energy grids are as influential as simple cost recovery in shaping residential solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption. The findings are particularly relevant for fast-developing countries, where infrastructure gaps persist and regulatory frameworks often evolve more slowly than technological diffusion. In such contexts, decentralized PV systems can meaningfully support energy transitions when embedded within robust governance arrangements, service provision, and institutional support structures. The study aligns with the FGRES research perspective that energy systems are broader sociotechnical systems, in which end-users play an active role in shaping adoption dynamics, system resilience, and long-term sustainability outcomes.