In Fredericia, there is a special energy environment that functions as a unique laboratory for full-scale energy solutions. Energy production, data centre capacity, large consumers, electricity system managers, industry, and infrastructure are gathered in one place, where players across sectors collaborate on specific projects and practical challenges.
DTU will strengthen this environment with a hub that will help develop flexible study and research activities in close interaction with local stakeholders and the business community. DTU and Fredericia Municipality have just signed an agreement to strengthen collaboration across education, research, business, and public sector players.
The aim is to develop and test solutions that can drive the Danish and international green transition—and accelerate the transition through digitalization.
"We're present in Fredericia because the city is one of Denmark's strongest powerhouses for energy innovation. Here, our students gain access to businesses working with specific energy and supply solutions, and our researchers get unique data, test environments, and strong industry partners. Ultimately, our commitment is about solving the urgent climate and security challenges with new digital and fossil-free solutions developed close to real-life issues. Fredericia is also a place where our students can develop into some of Europe's most competent engineers," says DTU President Anders Bjarklev.
Increasing need for new technologies
The partnership comes at a time when the green transition is facing new and complex demands. Climate change, geopolitical tensions, and the expansion of wind and solar energy strain the energy system and increase the need for new technologies, data, and AI solutions that can ensure flexibility and balance.
Fredericia is home to a large number of businesses and players working across the innovation chain—from development to testing and demonstration and industrial scaling of new green technologies. Here, new industries such as Power-to-X, energy-efficient data centres, and energy-efficient production are developed in close collaboration with the electricity system players.
Among the companies in Fredericia are Energinet, which owns and operates Denmark's main electricity transmission grid. In addition, Ørsted has one of its two Danish headquarters in the city and owns the Skærbæk Power Station, a biomass-fired combined heat and power plant that supplies district heating to the Triangle Region and electricity to the national grid. This is complemented by major industrial players such as Crossbridge Energy and energy companies like Everfuel, which work with green hydrogen for transport, industry, and energy systems.
"When education, research, the business community, and public players work closely together, it creates a strong basis for developing and testing solutions that can promote the green transition. In Fredericia, we have a unique energy environment where we already collaborate across borders—and where new ideas can quickly be converted into specific projects. The collaboration with DTU further strengthens this development and gives our city a key role in the green energy system of the future," says Peder Tind, Mayor of Fredericia Municipality.
Accelerating the green transition
DTU's presence in Fredericia aligns with the university's objective of enabling students and researchers to participate in education, research, and innovation activities across Denmark.
DTU conducts research and teaches how AI can accelerate the green transition, and has been present in Fredericia for many years. Especially through the energy and climate data hub Center Denmark, which collects and analyses data from the entire Danish energy sector. The goal of Center Denmark is to accelerate the transition to 100% renewable energy through digitalization and sector coupling, which makes the energy system more flexible. In addition, DTU collaborates with a number of businesses in and around Fredericia on joint projects, and runs both PhD programmes and summer schools for students.
With the establishment of a DTU Hub in Fredericia, the University is building on the existing collaborations. Among other things, DTU is investigating the possibilities of three-week courses and field-based teaching, where students get close to energy sector operations, challenges, and technologies. In the long term, efforts will be made to establish part-time MSc programmes where local companies can take on students in closer and longer-term collaborations. In addition, DTU wants to develop new collaborations between local businesses and DTU researchers.
