Manuela McCulloch

Institute of Energy and Drive Technologies
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Functions at the university

Research and teaching priorities

  • The energy sector and the transformation of the electricity system
  • Photovoltaics, smart meter infrastructure and balancing power
  • Regulation, market design and system integration of renewable energies
  • Sustainable grid tariffs, particularly with regard to economic efficiency, distributive justice, social welfare and incentives for grid-friendly flexibility
  • European comparative analyses of grid tariff models and their applicability to the German regulatory framework
  • Supervision of students

About me

I am a senior researcher in the field of energy economics within the Smart Grids Research Group at the Institute of Energy Technology and Energy Economics at Ulm University of Technology. My work focuses on the transformation of the energy system, in particular the integration of decentralised flexibility, photovoltaics, smart meter infrastructure, balancing power, grid tariff systems and regulatory issues relating to the energy transition.

My focus is on combining energy economics analysis, technical feasibility and practical application. In doing so, I work on solutions that better integrate electricity markets, grid operation and decentralised energy resources, thereby contributing to a secure, efficient and sustainable energy system.

  • Senior Researcher, Energy Economics Division, Smart Grids Research Group, Ulm University of Applied Sciences
  • Research Assistant, Smart Grids Research Group, Ulm University of Applied Sciences
  • Project Assistant, Ulm University of Applied Sciences
  • Head of Network Management at e.wa riss Netze GmbH, Biberach an der Riß
  • Head of the Network Management Department at TWS Netz GmbH, Ravensburg
  • Executive Assistant at Technische Werke Schussental GmbH & Co. KG, Ravensburg

Current research project: IEA-PVPS Task 19: International Grid Integration of Photovoltaics 2030

I am currently working on the ‘Grid Integration of Photovoltaics 2030 International’ project, the German contribution to Task 19 of the International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Technology Collaboration Programme. The Smart Grids Research Group at Ulm University of Applied Sciences is responsible for coordinating the German participation in this project.

The project focuses on the question of how high shares of photovoltaics can be integrated into electricity supply systems efficiently, safely and in a way that benefits the system. To this end, international experience, regulatory developments and technical solutions are being brought together and utilised for the further development of the German energy system.

Digital Solutions for Interoperability of Flexibility Platforms – DigIPlat

The DigIPlat project developed digital solutions for the interoperability of flexibility platforms. The focus was on cross-border and cross-platform coordination of flexibility for redispatch, balancing energy and intraday markets. The aim was to combine technical, energy-sector and regulatory approaches and to investigate the potential of interoperable platforms for future flexibility markets.

Balancing power from small photovoltaic systems

This project investigated how small photovoltaic systems could contribute to the provision of balancing power in the future. A key approach was the use of smart meter infrastructure to reduce technical and regulatory barriers to the participation of small PV systems in the balancing power market.

  • Dindar, B.; Müller, D.; McCulloch, M.; Çakmak, H. K.; Hagenmeyer, V.; Graeber, D.: Privacy-Preserving Flexibility Provisioning with an Optimization Approach for Enhanced TSO-DSO Interaction in Modern Power Systems. 2025 21st International Conference on the European Energy Market, EEM, 2025.
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  • Link, M.; Burkhart, M.; McCulloch, M.; Idlbi, B.; Graeber, D.: Das Energieeinsparpotenzial von Straßenbahnnetzen. Der Eisenbahningenieur, 2025.
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  • McCulloch, M.; Graeber, D.: Reform der Netzentgeltsystematik: Herausforderungen und Perspektiven für die Energiewende in Deutschland und Europa. Energiewirtschaftliche Tagesfragen, 2024.
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  • McCulloch, M.; Ebe, F.; Lorenz, H.; Schwarz, M.; Zhang, Z.; Graeber, D.: IT-Lösungen zur Erbringung von Regelleistung aus PV-Anlagen unter Verwendung der Smart-Meter-Infrastruktur. HMD Praxis der Wirtschaftsinformatik, 2024.
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  • McCulloch, M.; Graeber, D.: Netzorientierte Steuerung und ihre Rolle in der Energiewende: Eine Analyse des § 14a EnWG. Energiewirtschaftliche Tagesfragen, 2024.
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  • McCulloch, M.; Wiedemann, K.; Ruf, H.; Graeber, D.: Herausforderungen bei der Teilnahme kleiner PV-Anlagen am Regelreservemarkt aus bilanzieller Sicht. Energiewirtschaftliche Tagesfragen, 2023.
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  • Kondzialka, C.; McCulloch, M.; Taubmann, R.; Dierenbach, J.; Graeber, D.; Heilscher, G.: Removing Barriers for Participation of Small PV Systems in Balancing Energy Markets by Utilizing the Established Smart Meter Eco-System. IEEE PVSC, 2023.
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  • McCulloch, M.; Dierenbach, J.; Baatar, M.; Graeber, D.; Tolstrup, K.; Fanta, S.; Zobernig, V.: How interoperability of flexibility platforms enables market design opportunities. International Conference on the European Energy Market, EEM, 2023.
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  • Bachofer, T.; McCulloch, M.; Graeber, D.: Wirtschaftliche Attraktivität von Strom-Communities und Strom-Clouds – eine Momentaufnahme. Energiewirtschaftliche Tagesfragen, 2022.
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  • Kondzialka, C.; McCulloch, M.; Dierenbach, J.; Taubmann, R.; Graeber, D.; Heilscher, G.; Wiedemann, K.; Ebe, F.: Technical solutions and business prospects for the participation of small PV systems in the balancing energy market. 18th International Conference on the European Energy Market, EEM, 2022.
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  • McCulloch, M.; Wiedemann, K.; Ebe, F.; Dierenbach, J.; Graeber, D.; Kondzialka, C.: Einsatz von kleinen PV-Anlagen zur Erbringung von Regelleistung. Energiewirtschaftliche Tagesfragen, 2021.