The protection of settlements, transport routes and agricultural land in coastal regions depends largely on functioning drainage systems, such as sluices and pumping stations. However, climate change, rising energy prices and industrial water demand are posing growing challenges to existing water management. As part of the \u2018ForeCoast\u2019 collaborative project, Technische Universit\u00e4t Braunschweig, Leuphana University of L\u00fcneburg, Jade University of Applied Sciences in Wilhelmshaven\/Oldenburg\/Elsfleth, the company NAECO Blue and the Dithmarschen Dyke and Main Sluice Association are jointly developing a smart water and energy management system that combines flood protection, energy efficiency and security of supply. The project is receiving funding of around 1.5 million euros from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.<\/p>\n
At the heart of the project is the development of an innovative control model for pumping stations and sluices, which, as coastal outfall structures, ensure the drainage of the area behind the dykes. This model integrates hydrometeorological forecasts \u2013 which link weather data to the water cycle \u2013 with projections of water demand, as well as information on the availability of renewable energy, electricity prices and grid conditions. The aim is to achieve a proactive, data-driven control system for drainage operations that takes both ecological and economic requirements into account. \u201cWe want to derive concrete, actionable decisions for the operation of pumping stations from complex data \u2013 in real time and across various planning horizons,\u201d says project leader Professor Kai Schr\u00f6ter from the Leichtwei\u00df Institute for Hydraulic Engineering<\/a> at TU Braunschweig.<\/p>\n Around 12,000 square kilometres of land along the German North Sea coast lie below 2.5 metres above mean sea level. These lowlands are of enormous importance to the economy, industry and agriculture. At the same time, they are heavily reliant on a functioning drainage infrastructure. In Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein alone, more than 860 sluices and pumping stations ensure the drainage of these areas \u2013 with an annual energy consumption of around 80 gigawatt-hours.<\/p>\n Today, drainage operations rely largely on local expertise and the situational interpretation of weather and tidal forecasts. Climate change is significantly increasing the demands on management: rising sea levels, changes in tidal and storm surge dynamics, and higher inland runoff due to heavy rainfall are driving up pumping requirements and, consequently, energy consumption. At the same time, water supply from surface waters is becoming increasingly important, for example for hydrogen and battery production.<\/p>\n This is where \u2018ForeCoast\u2019 comes in, developing an integrated system that, for the first time, systematically links the water and energy sectors. The consortium brings together scientific modelling, expertise in energy management and practical operational experience. Together, TU Braunschweig, Leuphana University of L\u00fcneburg, Jade University of Applied Sciences Wilhelmshaven\/Oldenburg\/Elsfleth, NAECO Blue and the Dithmarschen Dyke and Main Sluice Association are laying the foundations for a system that simulates water and energy management constraints, assesses uncertainties and risks, optimises the control of drainage systems, takes storage potential and future water demand into account, and tests operation under real-world conditions.<\/p>\n The system is based, amongst other things, on machine learning, process-based simulations and methods for optimisation under uncertainty. It enables proactive and flexible control of drainage operations and thus contributes to sustainable water volume management. Specifically, it supports:<\/p>\n An integrated risk management system transparently evaluates various courses of action and provides a robust basis for decision-making for operators and authorities.<\/p>\n The system\u2019s practical applicability is being demonstrated at two pilot sites: in Brunsb\u00fcttel-S\u00fcd in Schleswig-Holstein, a major industrial and hydrogen hub, and at the Knock sluice and pumping station, which serves one of the largest drainage areas in Lower Saxony.<\/p>\n With its innovative approach, \u2018ForeCoast\u2019 makes an important contribution to understanding the water-energy nexus \u2013 that is, the interdependencies between energy and water \u2013 in the context of climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure development in line with Germany\u2019s High-Tech Agenda, as well as to the implementation of the National Water Strategy.<\/p>\n The collaborative project is coordinated by Technische Universit\u00e4t Braunschweig, Leichtwei\u00df Institute for Hydraulic Engineering (Department of Hydrology and River Basin Management). Other project partners include Leuphana University of L\u00fcneburg, Jade University of Applied Sciences Wilhelmshaven\/Oldenburg\/Elsfleth, the company NAECO Blue, and the Dithmarschen Dyke and Main Sluice Association. It is funded with approximately 1.5 million euros over three years as part of the Water-Energy Nexus (WENex) funding initiative<\/a> by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.<\/p>\n Further information:<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.bundesumweltministerium.de\/en\/national-water-strategy<\/a><\/p>\nSluices and pumping stations ensure the drainage of coastal lowlands<\/h3>\n
Proactive and flexible control of the infrastructure<\/h3>\n
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Project details<\/h3>\n