Stefan Niessen

Prof. Dr. Stefan Niessen is a Professor at Technische Universität Darmstadt, leading the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering. His research focuses on energy systems optimization, decarbonization strategies, and smart grid technologies. He specializes in thermal energy management, renewable energy communities, and multi-modal energy markets. His work addresses challenges such as grid stability, distributed energy resource integration, and efficient district heating operations.

Key research interests include:

• Optimization of energy networks (e.g., district heating, MV/LV grids)
• Data-driven approaches for energy system control
• Flexibility management in hybrid thermal-electric systems
• Impact of tariff designs on energy market dynamics

Recent studies highlight advancements in:

• Thermo-hydraulic oscillation mitigation in heating systems
• Price-collecting Steiner trees for topology design
• Low-voltage grid control via reinforcement learning

His work emphasizes practical implementation, with contributions to German energy policy, industrial decarbonization pathways, and resilient energy infrastructure design.