On 22–23 September 2026, Jiahe Chu from the Institute of New Energy Systems (InES) at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt presented research from the STORE project at the 12th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems in Aalborg, Denmark. The conference brought together researchers and experts from industry to exchange knowledge and discuss recent developments in smart energy systems, energy efficiency, electrification, and sector coupling.

The presented work, titled “Design and Evaluation of A Sector-Coupled Energy Management System for Supermarkets as Flexible EV Charging Hubs,” focuses on the development of an integrated energy management approach for supermarkets and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Supermarkets offer significant potential for flexible energy management. In addition to their existing refrigeration and heating systems, the increasing integration of photovoltaic generation and EV charging infrastructure creates new possibilities for coordinating energy consumption and making better use of available flexibility. Within the STORE project, we investigate how these different components can be intelligently connected and operated as part of an integrated energy system.

The presented research introduces a sector-coupled Energy Management System (EMS) that coordinates supermarket heating and cooling systems with smart EV charging. The approach considers both V1G smart charging and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) operation and makes use of flexibility from refrigeration systems, thermal storage, and building inertia. By coordinating these resources within a common control framework, supermarkets can make more efficient use of their energy infrastructure while also providing flexibility to the electricity grid.

The International Conference on Smart Energy Systems provided an excellent opportunity to present our research to the international scientific community and exchange perspectives with researchers and industry experts working on smart energy systems, electrification, energy efficiency, and sector coupling.

For STORE, the conference was a valuable opportunity to share our latest research activities, discuss approaches for integrating supermarkets and electric mobility into future energy systems, and gain new perspectives for the further development of the project.

Jiahe Chu presenting STORE research results

InES researchers at the 12th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems

Der Beitrag 06/2026 Presentation of STORE Research at the International Conference on Smart Energy Systems erschien zuerst auf STORE · PROJECT.

On 30 June 2026, we had the opportunity to present the STORE research project at the EHI Working Group Climate + Energy at the EUREF Campus in Düsseldorf. The working group brought together experts from the retail sector, industry, and research to discuss current challenges and potential solutions related to energy efficiency, climate action, and the sustainable transformation of retail properties.

During the “Policy & Research” session, Jiahe Chu from the Institute of New Energy Systems (InES) at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt presented the STORE project and our current research activities. The presentation focused on how artificial intelligence can be used for intelligent energy optimization in the retail sector, with particular emphasis on supermarkets and the growing integration of charging infrastructure for electric mobility.

Supermarkets are particularly energy-intensive sites due to refrigeration, lighting, building services, and other electrical loads. At the same time, photovoltaic systems, battery storage, and EV charging infrastructure create new opportunities as well as additional challenges for energy management. STORE investigates how these different components can be intelligently interconnected and how energy flows can be optimized using data-driven and AI-based methods.

The EHI Working Group provided an excellent setting to discuss our research approaches with representatives from industry and practice. In addition to the presentation of STORE, the agenda covered topics such as the transition to sustainable heating solutions in existing buildings, sustainable management of existing properties, and current climate and energy policy developments relevant to the retail sector. A campus tour, including insights into the EUREF Campus energy center, complemented the professional exchange.

For STORE, the event was a valuable opportunity to engage directly with stakeholders from the retail sector, gain insights into current practical challenges, and gather new perspectives for the further development of our project.

We would like to thank the EHI Retail Institute and all participants for the open exchange, engaging discussions, and valuable insights.

Group Photo at EHI Working Group Climate + Energy in Düsseldorf

Der Beitrag 06/2026 Presentation of the STORE Project at the EHI Working Group Climate + Energy in Düsseldorf erschien zuerst auf STORE · PROJECT.

The STORE Project held its first in-person meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 14 to 16 October. Hosted by the University of Cyprus, the event brought together the consortium partners from Tunisia, Cyprus and Germany.

The visit marked an important step in further strengthening international collaboration within the project. During the two-day internal workshop, the project members engaged in intensive discussions on the current progress of the work as well as on technical and organizational issues. The discussions focused in particular on data collection, interface compatibility, the dimensioning and further development of the Smart Flexibility Energy Manager, and the joint development of use cases. The program was complemented by visits to the photovoltaic laboratory and the new Faculty of Engineering at the University of Cyprus, which provided valuable insights into research and teaching activities in the fields of renewable energy and electromobility.

On the third day, a stakeholder workshop on flexibility from end-users and bidirectional charging took place. Representatives from academia and industry discussed the opportunities and challenges related to the integration of electric vehicles and supermarkets as flexible energy resources in the power grid. Valuable contributions were provided by Dr. Venizelos Efthymiou (EPL Technology Frontiers, PHAETHON CoE), Christos Konomis (Ecotricity Holdings Ltd), and Constantinos Lytras (pcharge).

The consortium would like to thank its partner, the University of Cyprus, for hosting and organizing the event, and also expresses its gratitude to all panelists for their valuable contributions.

Panel discussion on integrating electric vehicles and supermarkets into the power grid with representatives from academia and industry.

Consortium partners during a visit to the University of Cyprus’ Photovoltaics (PV) Laboratory.

Der Beitrag 10/2025 First In-Person Consortium Meeting erschien zuerst auf STORE · PROJECT.

German STORE Partners THI and Steinbacher-Consult Meet in Dialogue

On June 5, 2025, the team from the Institute of New Energy Systems (InES) at the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) visited the company Steinbacher-Consult Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG in Neusäß as part of the STORE project. Steinbacher-Consult is an innovative engineering consulting firm, with one of its key focus areas in energy and electromobility. The goal of the project is to develop an AI-supported Smart Flexibility Energy Manager (SFEM) to intelligently control energy flows in the supermarkets of the future – envisioned as hubs for electromobility, equipped with charging infrastructure and their own energy generation.

The visit began with a tour of the existing charging infrastructure at Steinbacher-Consult. This infrastructure is divided into four zones, covering a broad range of charging scenarios: a public charging park with five DC fast charging stations, a private underground parking garage with twelve DC and three standard AC charging points, an employee parking lot with twelve AC charging points, and garages for pool vehicles with seven additional AC charging points. This versatile setup provides an ideal foundation for the development and testing of future-oriented control approaches.

Following the tour, Steinbacher-Consult presented their intelligent energy management and monitoring system. This system enables comprehensive real-time monitoring and control of the entire energy flow. It allows for live tracking of the current load on charging points, charging performance, and the feed-in from the company’s own photovoltaic system. In the event of an impending overload of the grid connection, an automated load management system intervenes to selectively control individual charging processes, thereby ensuring a stable power supply.

During the subsequent technical exchange, participants engaged in an in-depth discussion of the current state of charging infrastructure and jointly developed initial ideas for future scenarios in planning and modeling charging and energy management systems. Another focus of the conversation was the concrete planning of the next project steps, both in terms of hardware integration and software implementation of the SFEM. It became clear that the combination of practical experience provided by Steinbacher-Consult and the scientific expertise of the academic project partners is crucial to the project’s success.

The visit to Neusäß marked an important milestone in the STORE project. With the planned Smart Flexibility Energy Manager, the goal is to create a system that not only operates efficiently but can also respond flexibly to changing demands – a key building block for a sustainable, smart, and mobility-oriented energy future.

In front of the Steinbacher-Consult company building, right next to the distinctive “charging mushroom” (from left to right: Maxime Lucas, Benjamin Dietz, and Steffen Lauter from Steinbacher-Consult; Jiahe Chu and Prof. Matthias Huber from THI, InES)

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Der Beitrag 06/2025 Energy Meets Intelligence erschien zuerst auf STORE · PROJECT.

The project enables the development of an AI-supported Smart Flexibility Energy Manager (SFEM), which should enable the integration of large-scale charging infrastructure for electric vehicles into supermarket infrastructure.

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