Press Releases
New Perspectives on Sustainable Infrastructure
Press release by Dresden University of Technology (TUD) and Fraunhofer SCAI Institute from April 23, 2026
Published on in PRESS RELEASES
Researchers at TUD and Fraunhofer SCAI illustrate why energy and mobility systems can only be understood as a whole
Why do well-intentioned measures in power grids or transportation systems sometimes fail to produce the desired outcomes, or even make the situation worse? A new study by researchers at TU Dresden and Fraunhofer SCAI reveals that sustainable infrastructures often behave differently than one might intuitively expect.
A review article published on April 23, 2026, in Nature Computational Science clearly demonstrates: The key characteristics of energy and mobility systems only become apparent when viewed as complex, dynamic systems as a whole.
Prof. Marc Timme (TUD) and Mehrnaz Anvari (Fraunhofer SCAI) compiled the latest findings on the dynamics of interconnected infrastructures. The focus is on how power grids and transportation systems react to changes and why even tiny and seemingly insignificant changes often have larger and unexpected consequences.
© Carina Steinborn, Prof. Marc Timme, Dr. Mehrnaz Anvari
Many of these infrastructures consist of a multitude of interconnected components. Their purpose, such as the supply of electrical energy, is only realized through the interaction of these parts and their interplay. Experts refer to this as “collective dynamics.” This is precisely where a key challenge for sustainability arises. Systems such as power grids and transportation networks react sensitively and often unpredictably to changes, fluctuations, and external influences.
An example is the electricity supply. As the proportion of renewable energy grows, electricity generation becomes more erratic and harder to predict. At the same time, digital technologies and new forms of usage are changing mobility. Both developments place greater demands on the planning and operation of the underlying systems.
The study also shows that seemingly obvious solutions do not always work, and explains why that is the case. In some cases, adding more connections to a network can actually reduce its capabilities. An effect known as the Braess paradox, which can occur in both transportation networks and power grids.
To better understand such dynamics, scientists combine data analysis, simulations, and theoretical models. Their goal is to predict the behavior of complex systems more reliably and make them more resilient to disruptions.
“We must learn to think of infrastructures as dynamic, integrated systems,” said Marc Timme. “Only in this way can we guarantee their stability and develop them in a sustainable manner.”
The findings are relevant to many areas of everyday life. They involve energy supply, urban traffic, and the integration of new technologies. This project provides a scientific foundation for making sustainable infrastructures more resilient in the future.
The paper is available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s43588-026-00971-5.
Contact:
Prof. Marc Timme, Chair for Network Dynamics Institute of Theoretical Physics, Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden und Center Synergy of Systems, TU Dresden
marc.timme@tu-dresden.de