By Niels Landbo Krogh, AAU Communikation and Public Affairs
Photo: Anders Hedegaard

When Anders Hedegaard arrives at work, he has a clear mission: to make a difference both in the laboratory and in society. He is not only focused on research; he wants to see the results play out in the real world.

As an expert in hydraulics, Anders Hedegaard is dedicated to reducing CO2 emissions from the large machines that build our world. The CO2 emissions from hydraulic construction equipment are now comparable to those from international air travel.

“Hydraulics is fascinating because it’s about moving things with great forces and energies. Everything seems much smaller when using other technologies like mechanical gearing and cog wheels.”

From Studies to Hands-On Practice

Anders Hedegaard has never been satisfied with just understanding things on paper, and his career has swung like a pendulum between theory and practice. Although he holds a PhD in hydraulics, he’s also taken several courses at vocational school to learn how the equipment is used—getting his hands dirty, so to speak. After all, theoretical calculations alone don’t change the world.

“I dreamed of leaving the university to become a practitioner. I’m a bit of a researcher at heart, but the 'applied' aspect of research is important to me. I need to be able to understand something in a physical sense, not just theoretically".

Energy Efficiency in Practice

Today, Anders Hedegaard focuses primarily on improving the energy efficiency of hydraulics in construction machinery and industrial plants, and he’s not afraid to dive into heavy data analysis and theory. But back in his student days, his main motivation was the hands-on projects and solutions he could build in the labs.

“The best part of my studies—and even my time before that at HTX—was getting to try things out and find solutions through projects. The courses were less exciting, especially when it wasn’t clear what they could be used for”

Energy Enthusiast in His Free Time

When Anders Hedegaard isn’t fine-tuning the energy efficiency of large machines, you can often find him in the gym. As the chairman of the gymnastics club at Vestbjerg IF, he’s active both as a gymnast and an instructor—and it’s not only the kids and adults learning something in the sports hall. His passion for energy optimization follows him there too, where trampolines become the focus of his technical eye.

“I work with moments of inertia—when people jump up from a trampoline. And often, it’s the same principles at play as when moving a heavy load with pumps and cylinders, where you need to avoid unnecessary energy loss to achieve an optimal jump.”

Read a debate article on Anders Hedegaard's research: De store entreprenørmaskiner er kæmpe, oversete klimasyndere