Nordic Energy Informatics Summit 2024 Workshop

The Nordic Energy Informatics Summit 2024 opened with an impactful workshop hosted by the SDU Center for Energy Informatics at the Energy Metaverse Lab, Odense. This event marked the first in-person meeting of the Nordic Energy Informatics Academy Network partners, fostering collaborative discussions and showcasing innovations in energy informatics across the Nordic region.

The day featured presentations on key energy research, including the ERA-Net-funded ADRENALIN project led by Prof. Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen, which explored data-driven approaches to smart buildings. Participants also experienced a live demonstration of Energy Metaverse by Simon Soele Madsen and Benjamin Eichler Staugaard, emphasizing the role of real-time data in optimizing energy systems and energy intensive sectors. The discussions covered critical topics such as cross-border funding, current research trends, and future opportunities in the sector.

Additionally, the workshop placed significant emphasis on education in energy informatics. Prof. Zheng Grace Ma introduced the Energy Informatics Academy Nordic, leading discussions on curriculum development, international collaboration, and building the skills needed for future energy professionals.

Workshop Participants

The workshop included active participation from the four core universities of the Nordic Energy Informatics Academy Network. Each university contributes expertise in specific research areas critical to advancing energy informatics:

• Prof. Dr. Zheng Grace Ma, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

• Prof. Dr. Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen, Head of SDU Center for Energy Informatics, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

• Prof. Dr. Rúnar Unnþórsson, Head of Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science, University of Iceland, Iceland

• Prof. Dr. Ivo Martinac, Chair of Building Services and Energy Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chiara Bordin, Arctic University of Norway, Norway

• Simon Soele Madsen and Benjamin Eichler Staugaard, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

• Benjamin Eichler Staugaard, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

• Lu Chong, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Focused Research Areas

The Nordic Energy Informatics Academy Network focuses on four key research areas that are essential for advancing energy informatics in the Nordic region:

·       University of Southern Denmark: Energy market participation and demand response

·       Arctic University of Norway: Electric vehicle adoption and energy system integration

·       KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden: Smart buildings and grid integration

·       University of Iceland: Energy communities and distributed energy resources

Program Structure

The network operates through three core activities designed to promote long-term collaboration and knowledge exchange:

• Annual Research Exchange: Selected PhD students and researchers participate in exchanges, workshops, and collaborative publications.

• Annual Summer School: A two-day event focused on academic and practical skills, awarding 2 ECTS credits.

• Annual Conference: A platform for researchers and industry professionals to present innovative research and engage in networking opportunities.

Future Outlook

A key takeaway from the workshop was the proposal to create a shared platform for exchanging real-time data, models, and research across participating institutions. This platform aims to foster innovation and improve energy systems' efficiency across the Nordic region.

The workshop set the stage for the following day’s Nordic Energy Informatics Summit 2024, which featured keynote speakers and public discussions about the future of energy informatics in the Nordic countries.