RetroShift, short for “load shifting with retrofitted devices”, enables customers to benefit from renewable energy. The core idea behind RetroShift is to develop mechanical or electronic actuators that can be easily attached to existing appliances like washing machines and dishwashers. These actuators enable the appliances to operate during periods when energy tariffs are low or when renewable energy sources are abundant. By doing so, RetroShift helps customers save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

Matthias Hertel, Karthik Muthukumar, Ulrich Oberhofer, Sebastian Pütz and Henri Steinweg are affiliated with the graduate school “Enabling Net Zero” (ENZo) of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). As part of the graduate school’s qualification program, they are developing RetroShift as an interdisciplinary real-world project.

A first prototype of the actuator, along with a software frontend, has already been developed. This prototype was showcased at the Impact Day, where attendees can see firsthand how RetroShift works and learn more about the potential use cases.