IEA IETS Annex 18: Digitalization, artificial intelligence and related technologies for energy efficiency and reduction of GHG emissions in industry

Annex 18 Task 2 provides an overview of the methods, applications and requirements of digital twins in different industrial sectors. The focus is on relevant solutions for improving energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions. The potential of these solutions is evaluated and business cases and recommendations for action are developed. The interdisciplinarity and the international consortium enable the development of a network of experts from research and industry.

Short Description

Objectives

The overall objective of the international IEA IETS Annex 18 is to increase the knowledge, development and application of digitalization, AI and related technologies to improve the economic and environmental performance of energy and GHG intensive industries. The goal, innovation content and desired results of Task 2 of Annex 18 is to expand and improve the implementation of digital twins in the industry and to create the necessary foundations and framework conditions for this.

Activities

An overview of the methods and applications of digital twins and their requirements for different industrial sectors along their life cycles shall be given. The potential benefits of these methods will be analyzed and the relevance of DT for reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency will be illustrated. In the course of this, business models and recommendations can be formulated which will serve as a guideline for the successful implementation of DT in industry.

The interdisciplinary consortium of Annex 18 Task 1 offers the opportunity to examine relevant methods and applications of DT from the perspective of research and industry and to generate expertise. In cooperation with the other tasks of Annex 18, an international network and information structure for DT methods and applications can be created. Only with this interdisciplinary and international exchange of knowledge is it possible to cover all aspects of this extensive topic and to establish a sound basis for the increased use of digitalization methods like DT in industry.

Expected results

The main result is an exhaustive overview over the state of the art of digital twins, cutting-edge methods and potential applications. An assessment of the requirements of industry will be made available, and business models, which are enabled by digital twins, will be presented. Additionally, the collaboration in the Annex XVIII will foster an international network of leading industry corporations, innovative technology providers and top-tier research institutions.

Publications

White Paper „Digitalization in Industry – An Austrian Perspective" (2020)

Participants

Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland

Contact Address

Project leader

Technische Universität Wien
Institute of Energy Systems and Termodynamics
Univ.-Prof. Dr. René Hofmann
Getreidemarkt 9/E302, 1060 Wien
E-Mail: rene.hofmann@tuwien.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 58801 302327

Project partners

AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (AIT)
Center for Energy – Sustainable Thermal Energy Systems
DI Sophie Knöttner
Giefinggasse 2, 1210 Wien
E-Mail: Sophie.knoettner@ait.ac.at
Tel: +43 664 88 90 43 37

AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC)
Jürgen Fluch
Feldgasse 19, 8200 Gleisdorf
E-Mail: j.fluch@aee.at
Tel: +43 (0) 3112 5886 454

Montanuniversität Leoben
Chair of Energy Network Technology
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Kienberger
Franz-Josef-Str. 18, 8700 Leoben
E-Mail: thomas.kienberger@unileoben.ac.at
Tel: +43 3842 402 5400