A cross-branches partner network aims at developing an intelligent, integrated building control system designed to centrally control core components for energy supply, energy storage and distribution/consumption in a building based on the principles of energy and demand side optimization. 

About 40% of energy is consumed in buildings; this makes building technology a key discipline when it comes to attaining European climate and energy goals. Developments on single technologies level are being replaced by developments aiming at comprehensive systems with coordinated yield and load profiles of all relevant energy forms. The development of efficient and economical system solutions requires a cooperative network featuring interdisciplinary know how.

To this end, a consortium made up of research and industry partners initiated the ZGEM research project. The project focuses on developing and testing an innovative and centralized building energy management system that is to integrate and optimize heat pumps, thermic storage systems (puffers), PV systems with three-phased self-commutated voltage inverters and battery storage systems integrating regional weather data in order to maximize the consumption of PV-energy and ease the load on the electric grid.

This goal can only be attained through a cooperative network of partners from a variety of branches that contribute their respective views and their respective expertise to a comprehensive identification of issues and the solution thereof.