Future Energy Center, School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University

The Future Energy Center (FEC) is an internationally competitive research environment at Mälardalen University (MDH), Sweden. MDH is with 16 000 students one of Sweden’s large Higher Education Institutions. MDH is characterized by close partnerships with industry and the public sector. Engineering research at MDH is particularly strong. The Earth’s resources are finite and the world is facing comprehensive challenges. The creation of a sustainable supply of energy is a must. MDH’s research in Future Energy Center is internationally recognised, and numerous projects are conducted together with private enterprise. FEC focus on renewable energy, resource efficiency and digitalisation – towards a sustainable future, in co-production with industry and society. FEC meets the future challenges in energy and environmental systems by investigating and developing processes and systems for increased resource efficiency and digitalisation in the transition towards a renewable energy system. A core area is enhancing the flexibility, to accommodate intermittent renewable energies such as solar and wind, and to meet the growing need of capacity. Resource efficiency includes utilizing bioenergy sources and at the same time enabling recovery of other resources, as for example nutrients. Another important area is investigating possible process integrations for both increased flexibility and resource efficiency. Further, digitalisation concerns developing new mathematical methods for model based diagnostics, decision support, optimization and control. Different simulation tools and soft sensors built on e.g. spectral measurement techniques are used in combination to develop new systems for optimization and control. Interdisciplinary work and the integration of research approaches from engineering and natural sciences with those in social sciences and humanities perspectives, as for example markets, big data handling and behaviour, are important to consider.

FEC conducts education within energy, building and environmental engineering at bachelor, master and postgraduate levels. Strategic collaboration with industry is an important part of the education. On-going activities include development of modern web-based education, which extends to the international market. Moreover, FEC participates in several research schools in collaboration with industry and the public sector.