ITAS 12-19 Master thesis: Life Cycle Assessment of hybrid off-grid systems based on the Hybrid Off-Grid Techno-Economic Opti-mization Model (HOTEM)

Abschlussarbeiten (Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten)

A key element of providing an economically feasible off-grid system for electricity demand in remote areas is the techno-economic modeling of the system over its lifetime. Therefore, it is necessary for the planning phase to have a software tool for the best configuration and components sizing of the hybrid system. With such a tool different system scenarios and solutions for ending global energy poverty through off-grid hybrid renewable electricity systems (OHRES) can be evaluated. Here, also the environmental performance of such systems has to be co-considered to achieve a sustainable local energy supply. Life Cycle Assessment is a well-known and standardized approach to quantitatively method to carry out such assessments. The aim of the master thesis is to use the existing HOTEM model and to carry out an LCA of all relevant components of the hybrid off-grid systems. Special attention will be given to the hybrid storage battery system (Li-Ion battery + Lead-acid) used in the model and the existing systems. The planned master thesis is a cooperation of the Battery Technical Center (https://www.batterietechnikum.kit.edu/english/index.php) and ITAS.

Description of work:           

Thesis work will be done as joint supervision between ITAS and BATEC.

The work location will be ITAS KIT campus south.

The task includes the following aspects:

• Development of a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for existing Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Electricity Systems (OHRES)
• Use phase modeling with “Hybrid Off-Grid Techno-Economic Model (HOTEM)”
• Life Cycle impact analysis and interpretation of results
• Implimentation fo the LCA modelling module into HOTEM
• Documentation and critical reflection

Study field: industrial engineering, computer science, mathematics or similar disciplines

• Preferably a good understating of photovoltaics, small wind turbines andelectrical energy storage in the context of batteries.
• Interest in off-grid renewable energy system applications, especially home storage systems, and micro-grids.Experience in the field of Life Cycle Assessment
• Basic technical understanding of renewable energy systems, energy storage technologies, materials and the topic of sustainability
• Good knowledge of MS Office, especially Excel,
• Good Command in Matlab scripting is a plus
• Independent and result-oriented way of working

ITAS 11-19 Master Thesis: Identification and quantification of cultural ecosystem services of urban trees and forests in Karlsruhe and surrounding communities

Abschlussarbeiten (Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten)

Within the project "GrüneLunge: Inter- and transdisciplinary development of strategies to increase the resilience of trees in growing cities and urban regions", a methodology will be developed to evaluate the exchange of ecosystem services of urban trees and forests between the city of Karlsruhe and surrounding communities. The idea of ​​this compensation concept: Municipalities such as Rheinstetten can provide ecosystem services to the city, and in return receive cultural services or financial compensation for the expansion or maintenance of green spaces.

Ecosystem services are divided into four categories according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA, 2005): 1) Provisioning, 2) Regulatory, 3) Supportive and 4) Cultural. Urban ecosystem services and ecosystem services are being conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Economics and Ecosystem of Biodiversity (TEEB) Initiative (Ring et al., 2010) and the valueES Guidelines (ValueES, 2017).

The focus of the master thesis is on the identification and quantification of cultural ecosystem services of urban trees and forests in Karlsruhe and surrounding communities by applying qualitative methods. The results flow into the compensation concept.
 

More information about the project can be found here: https://www.itas.kit.edu/projekte_saha18_grulu.php and here: https://www.quartierzukunft.de/forschung/gruenelunge/.
If necessary, the activity can be combined with a Hiwi activity. The master thesis should be carried out full-time at ITAS.

Your task includes within the scope of the mentioned topic description:

• Literature research on the status quo of ecosystem services of green spaces and trees
• Identification and quantification of cultural ecosystem services of urban trees and forests in Karlsruhe and Rheinstetten by:
• Literature review
• If necessary, online surveys
• Surveys on site
• If necessary, further methods

Please send a letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) in addition to your CV and evidence of previous credentials. Only online application will be accepted as valid application.

• Student of Forestry, Geoecology, Environmental Sciences or similar disciplines
• Desirable: a basic understanding of qualitative methods
• Experience in using MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and literature programs (e.g. Citavi)
• Fluency in spoken and written German is compulsory, good language skills in English are desirable (level C2 with TestDaf or DSH certificate of German language for speakers of German as a foreign language)
• Reliable, responsible and result-oriented way of working

ITAS 10-19 Masterarbeit zum Thema: Ermittlung und Quantifizierung von kulturellen Ökosystemdienstleistungen von urbanen Bäumen und Wäldern in Karlsruhe und umliegenden Gemeinden

Abschlussarbeiten (Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten)

Innerhalb des Projekts „GrüneLunge: Inter- und transdisziplinäre Entwicklung von Strategien zur Erhöhung der Resilienz von Bäumen in wachsenden Städten und urbanen Regionen“ soll eine Methodik entwickelt werden, um den Ausgleich von Ökosystemdienstleistungen von urbanen Bäumen und Wäldern zwischen der Stadt Karlsruhe und umliegenden Gemeinden zu beurteilen. Die Idee des Ausgleichskonzepts: Gemeinden wie Rheinstetten können der Stadt Ökosystemdienstleistungen bieten und im Gegenzug kulturelle Dienstleistungen oder finanzielle Entschädigungen für die Erweiterung oder den Erhalt der Grünflächen erhalten.

Ökosystemdienstleistungen werden entsprechend dem Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA, 2005) in vier Kategorien eingeteilt: 1) Bereitstellend, 2) Regulierend, 3) Unterstützend und 4) Kulturell. Untersuchungen zu Ökosystemdienstleistungen von städtisches Bäumen und Wäldern werden anhand der Vorgaben durch die Economics and Ecosystem of Biodiversity (TEEB) Initiative (Ring et al., 2010) und gemäß den “valueES” Guidelines (ValueES, 2017) durchgeführt.

Der Fokus der Masterarbeit liegt auf der Ermittlung und Quantifizierung von kulturellen Ökosystemdienstleistungen von urbanen Bäumen und Wäldern in Karlsruhe und umliegenden Gemeinden durch das Anwenden von qualitativen Methoden. Die Ergebnisse fließen in das Ausgleichskonzept ein.

Mehr Informationen zum Projekt finden Sie hier: https://www.itas.kit.edu/projekte_saha18_grulu.php und hier: https://www.quartierzukunft.de/forschung/gruenelunge/.

Gegebenenfalls kann die Tätigkeit mit einer Hiwi-Tätigkeit verbunden werden. Die Masterarbeit sollte in Vollzeit am ITAS durchgeführt werden.

Ihre Aufgabe umfasst im Rahmen der genannten Themenbeschreibung:

• Literatur-Recherche zum Status quo von Ökosystemdienstleistungen von Grünflächen und Bäumen
• Ermittlung und Quantifizierung von kulturellen Ökosystemdienstleistung von städtischen Bäumen und Wäldern in Karlsruhe und Rheinstetten durch:
• Literaturrecherche
• Ggf. Online-Umfragen
• Umfragen vor Ort
• Ggf. weitere Methoden

• Studierende der Fachrichtungen Forstwissenschaften, Geoökologie, Umweltwissenschaften oder ähnlicher Fachrichtungen
• Wünschenswert: ein grundsätzliches Verständnis von qualitativen Methoden
• Erfahrungen im Umgang mit MS Office-Anwendungen (Word, Excel, Outlook) und Literaturprogrammen (z.B. Citavi)
• Fließende Deutschkenntnisse in Wort und Schrift sind verpflichtend, gute Sprachkenntnisse in Englisch sind wünschenswert
• Zuverlässige, eigenverantwortliche und ergebnisorientierte Arbeitsweise

ITAS 09-19 Master thesis: Development of an MCDA based screening method for emergent battery materials (MatScreen)

Abschlussarbeiten (Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten)

There is a wide consensus that energy storage technologies are an im-portant element to enable continued stability to future decarbonized Eu-ropean energy networks. Within the POLiS (Post Lithium Storage) Cluster of Excellence, scientists from Karlsruhe and Ulm are researching future batteries, which should be powerful, reliable, sustainable and environ-mentally friendly. The overall objective of the Cluster is to build a funda-mental understanding of a new generation of electrochemical energy storage systems and develop a platform for future stationary and mobile applications. Within POLiS (http://www.hiu-batteries.de/exzellenzstrategie-hiu-erhaelt-foerderung/), a screening method of different electrode mate-rials for new types of battery will be developed, taking into account sus-tainability aspects. The screening on the basis of selected criteria should make it possible to obtain initial indications on the sustainability of dif-ferent electrode materials from the perspective of technology develop-ers. A multi-criteria decision analysis method will be developed together with technology developers (e.g. AHP in combination with Fuzzy Logic, ELECTRE, etc.). The planned master thesis within POLiS is a cooperation with HIU (http://www.hiu-batteries.de/batterieforschungszentrum-in-deutschland/forschung/systeme/ressourcen-umwelt-nachhaltigkeit/) and ITAS.

The task includes the following aspects:

• Development of a modular MCDA-tool (modular with regard to criteria adaptation), e.g. AHP + X
• First collection and design of a set of criteria for testing the tool, if necessary already in close coordination with a small group of technology developers for the material screening
• Preliminary study: Test weightings and feedback experts –
• Documentation and critical reflection

• Study field: industrial engineering, computer science, mathematics or similar disciplines
• Experience in the field of Operation Research in the field of MADM is very advantageous
• Basic technical understanding of energy storage technologies, materials and the topic of sustainability
• Good knowledge of MS Office, especially Excel

Weitere Angebote im Internet:

• Personalservice des KIT
• Jobportal des KIT