ForeCoast is developing an adaptive, forecast-based water and energy management system for drainage systems in tide-influenced coastal regions. At the heart of the system is a flexible control model for sluices and pumping stations that integrates hydrometeorological and water demand forecasts with forecasts regarding renewable energy availability, electricity prices, and grid conditions acrossmultiple time scales.
The water and energy management conditions form the basis for predictive and prescriptive optimisation of drainage operations. Within a multi-objective system (water level maintenance, pump runtime, energy consumption, grid support, water supply), robust recommendations for action are generated that strengthen flood protection and supply security, reduce energy costs, and stabilise the power grid through grid-supportive pump control. Model-reduced methods, AI- and process-based surrogate models, ensemble forecasts, as well as stochastic and robust optimisation ensure practical computation times and increase resilience, including against uncertainties. An integrated risk management system quantifies risks and makes control recommendations transparent for decision-makers. Technical feasibility and transferability are demonstrated at two pilot sites.
https://www.bmftr.bund.de/ Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR)
July 2026 to June 2029