The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) pools its three core tasks of research, higher education, and innovation in a mission. With about 9,300 employees and 25,000 students, KIT is one of the big institutions of research and higher education in natural sciences and engineering in Europe.

Two institutions of KIT participate in the project:

Institute for Industrial Production (KIT-IIP): The Institute for Industrial Production was established in 1982 at the University of Karlsruhe. In 2008, two new chairs were established – namely the Chair of Business Administration, Production and Operations Management and the Chair of Energy Economics. At the chair of Energy Economics techno-economic questions are analysed along the whole energetic value chain, from primary energy production and energy conversion and transport to energy distribution and use. The scientific research is focused on the electricity system, i.e. energy markets, integration of generation by renewable energy sources, power flow on different grid levels, smart grids and electric mobility. Analyses are undertaken by advanced energy system modelling with a focus on approaches in the field of operations research. In the REFLEX-project KIT-IIP is responsible for the analysis of different design options of electricity markets and their impact on the integration of flexible technologies. Furthermore, KIT-IIP is participating in the analysis of the market penetration of electric vehicles in the coming decades.

Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (KIT-ITAS): The Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis investigates scientific and technological developments with a focus on their impacts and possible systemic and unintended effects. It produces analytical knowledge and assessments of socio-technical developments in order to provide policy and design options for decision makers. The research covers ethical, ecological, economic, social, political-institutional and cultural questions. Major goals are advice for research and technology policy, the provision of knowledge for the design of socio-technical systems and the organization and observation of discursive processes on open and controversial questions of technology policy. The role of KIT-ITAS in the REFLEX-project is carrying out systems analyses and scientific-based assessments of different and sometimes competing energy technologies and flexibility options. Apart from studying material and energy balances as well as environmental impacts of technologies and products, the focus of the analyses is also on their economic, social, and spatial implications. The analysis covers the whole range from provision of primary energy sources and raw materials to conversion technologies and systems considerations for the energy sector.