Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Successful PhD defense of Ingrid Schardinger



Ingrid Schardinger successfully defended her PhD Thesis entitled “Räumliche Modellierung und Optimierung regionaler Energiesysteme“ (spatial modelling and optimization of regional Energy systems). 
Prof. Blaschke served as the chair of the examination panel, Prof. Gerd Peyke (University of Augsburg) and Prof. Josef Strobl acted as discussants.

In a close collaboration with the research studio iSPACE and the Max-Planck Institute for Plasma Physics Ingrid Schardinger developed a computer based model for the optimisation of regional rural energy systems. This decision support tool links a linear optimisation model with spatial approaches. The central research question is “Can optimisation approaches linked with spatial models improve the quantification and representation of regional rural energy system developments?”

In order to model regional energy relevant structures, geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial methods are used. The potentials of renewable energy in Austria were systematically and the spatio-temporal pattern of demand and supply were illustrated in graphs and maps. One special focus was the regional level for rural areas which are not considered explicitly in most models. One model was developed in high detail for the community St. Roman in Upper Austria where detailed household interviews about energy consumption and mobility behaviour were carried out. Surprisingly, even in a very rural area daily commuting distances are not limiting for a high share of electric cars in the future.

We congratulate Ingrid to her performance and wish her all the best for her future career.

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