[Webinar Series] Harnessing the power of Destination Earth: Anticipating solar energy risks using Europe’s massive Digital Twin
EO4ER has been selected by ESA in the context of the Destination Earth (DestinE) flagship initiative, to develop a Digital Twin Component prototype for the energy sector. EO4ER’s consortium is composed of IT and cutting-edge software development specialist OHB Digital Services, THU’s application-orientated Smart Grids Research Group and cloud estimation and solar forecasting expert Reuniwatt. We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming webinar: Harnessing the Power of Destination Earth: Anticipating Solar Energy Risks Using Europe’s Massive Digital Twin.
EO4ER has been selected by ESA in the framework of the Destination Earth (DestinE) flagship initiative to develop a Digital Twin Component (DTC) prototype for the energy sector. The EO4ER consortium brings together OHB Digital Services, THU’s Smart Grids Research Group, and Reuniwatt.
During this session, we will showcase the DTC prototype and demonstrate how it can support grid planning and optimization, as well as risk assessment and climate impact analysis:
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Prof. Gerd Heilscher (THU) will open with a scientific overview, explaining the foundations of EO4ER and how the Digital Twin addresses the challenges of decentralized renewable energy integration.
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Dr. Ingo Schoolmann (OHB Digital Services) will present the latest results and a live demonstration of the DTC graphical user interface, highlighting its potential for supporting network operators.
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Dr. Kaouther Belkilani (THU) will lead an interactive hands-on session with polls and questionnaires to gather insights from participants, and conclude the session with key takeaways.
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Marion Lafuma (Reuniwatt) will moderate the webinar, guiding the discussions and highlighting the practical benefits of the DTC for the energy sector.
After this webinar, you will have a better understanding of:
About the speakers:
Marion Lafuma holds a BBA obtained at ESSEC Business School, followed by an MBA in Operational Management and Sustainable Performance. She joined Reuniwatt in 2011 when she launched the company’s Mauritian subsidiary. She then joined the Parisian office in 2013 where she is in now in charge of the firm’s business development. With a passion of sustainable and responsible energy, Marion has been responsible for expanding Reuniwatt’s sales in renewable energy, defence & space and atmospheric sciences. Having an analytical approach and troubleshooting with integrity, she has been at the core of the company, accompanying it from a regional startup to international market leader.
Prof. Gerd Heilscher is a recognized expert in smart grids and decentralized renewable energy integration, and member of VDI, VDE, IEEE,ISES,DGS,DMGVAND SmartGrids BW and Leads Task14 (Photovoltaic in a 100% RES based power system) of the International Energy Agency. In the semester (2011/12), he carried out analyses in the USA on rapid irradiation changes and their effects on the power grid in Hawaii. In 2014, he was awarded the Science Prize of the City of Ulm.
Dr. Ingo Schoolmann is a mathematician and software architect with expertise in EO data processing, cloud computing, and machine learning. He is involved in OHB international (EU,EUSPA,ESA) as well as national project playing the role of a project leader, or software developer. He has expertise in developement of cloud and machine learning solutions, software architecture design,and EO data processing. Finishing his PhD in 2020 in mathematics he has a strong mathematical background, received prize award for his scientific work, and several publications in highly ranked scientific journal.
Dr. Kaouther Belkilani is a senior researcher and team leader at Smart Grids Research Group since 2021. She holds a Ph.D. in in Energy meteorology at the University of Elmanar in Tunisia (2020) and specializes in solar resource assessment, PV power forecasting, and grid optimization. She has expertise in applied energy meteorology with focus on grid modeling, and the integration of renewable energy into smart grids.

Marion Lafuma
Moderator
EO4ER Team Lead @Reuniwatt

Gerd Heilscher
Speaker
Head of the Smart Grids research Group @Technische Hochschule Ulm

Kaouther Belkilani
Speaker
Senior Researcher Applied Energy Meteorology
@Technische Hochschule Ulme

Ingo Schoolmann
Speaker
Project Manager, Team and Technical Lead
@OHB Digital Services

About THU Smart Grids (www.thu.de)
The Smart Grids Research Group (SGFG) at Ulm University of Applied Sciences (THU) is one of the university’s largest research teams, specializing in energy informatics, economics, meteorology, and infrastructure. Led by experts with both technical and economic backgrounds, the group bridges industry needs with academic research to develop practical solutions for the energy transition. Central to its work is the Smart Grid Laboratory, where concepts are modeled, simulated, and tested, complemented by real-world field trials with decentralized energy system operators. SGFG collaborates with national and European partners on funded projects, ensuring results feed directly into industry standards, policy discussions, and the future development of sustainable energy systems.

About OHB Digital Services (www.ohb-ds.de)
OHB Digital Services is a leader in secure digitization of business processes along the value chain. As part of the OHB Group, one of Europe’s largest space and technology companies, they provide IT solutions in areas including embedded software, remote sensing, cybersecurity, and user-friendly applications, leveraging expertise from over 3,000 engineers across Europe.

About Reuniwatt (reuniwatt.com/)
Reuniwatt is a major player of the solar radiation and cloud cover assessment and solar and wind power forecasting. Based on solid Research and Development works, the company offers reliable products and services intended for professionals of various fields, making the best out of two key facets of the meteorology: atmospheric physics and data sciences. A particular focus has been placed on solar energy forecasting, while developing cutting edge solutions to improve the short-term prediction of the solar resource.
The company has been honored as a European Champion for innovation through several European programs, including H2020, ESA, ERDF, Interreg Europe, which makes Reuniwatt a European Champion with regard to innovation. Reuniwatt has also been selected among the national fast-growing companies to join the prestigious French Tech 120 programme in 2020 and 2021, and the French Space Tour 2021.

The Earth Observation for Energy Risks (EO4ER) project uses satellite data from space to make predictions about solar energy on Earth. The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected it as part of the “Destination Earth” (DestinE) initiative. The project is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) under the reference AO/1-12108/24/I-KE.