Research Projects

In order to achieve the Paris climate protection target of net zero emissions in the second half of this century, an unprecedented transformation of the energy supply towards renewable energies (RE) is required in all sectors worldwide. In the target countries of this project, Indonesia, Argentina and Kenya, the potential of RE has so far been insufficiently utilized and the existing national framework conditions are not yet sufficient to increase the share of RE. This project therefore supports cities and regions in these countries in developing strategies for 100% RE supply and in raising awareness and commitment among stakeholders. At the same time, it supports the assessment of local RE potential and the development of eligible projects for the expansion of RE. The project thus provides tools and resources for a RE-based energy supply. | Duration: 03/2020 - 03/2023

The Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat) has been commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) to investigate and provide key data on renewable energy which is needed on a national and international level. It is led by the central office at the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), which also provides scientific and organizational support. Fraunhofer ISE is responsible for offering scientific support in the areas of photovoltaics and heat pumps (environmental heat/ shallow geothermal energy) within the project. | Duration: 04/2019 - 06/2022

In Kuwait, an energy park with wind, CSP and PV technology and a total capacity of 2 GW is to be built in three phases over an area of 100 km2. A total of 14 potential technologies were selected and evaluated techno-economically in the study. In order to obtain the optimal technology mix for different scenarios, we defined evaluation criteria and developed an optimisation procedure. One important goal is to meet the pronounced peak loads in Kuwait with the park. The optimisation takes account of not only technological but also socio-economic factors, as well as a predicted cost development up to the final expansion phase in 2030. | Duration: 2013

Numerous communities, regions, increasingly also cities placed the target to shift their energy supply towards a renewable technologies based system. 100 % renewable energy regions (100% EE-Regionen), bio energy villages (Bioenergiedörfer) and also cities like Flensburg or Frankfurt Main set ambiguous targets for their energy supply and CO2 reduction. Which impact can be derived from this development for the whole energy system in Germany? | Duration: 05/2015 - 12/2018

The energy transition will not only bring about a technological but also a structural change in the energy system. There are already initial projects in which direct or Peer-2-Peer trading concepts allow local producers and consumers to exchange dynamically varying amounts of electricity directly without resorting to the classic structure of energy supply such as energy markets or wholesalers. The question is how these future possible trading structures will affect established balancing processes such as balancing group management. The central objective of the "BKM_2.0" project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, is to develop methodological, regulatory and technical solutions for linking and adapting processes between classic balancing group management and innovative energy trading processes. | Duration: 12/2020 - 06/2024

Twenty six research institutions join forces in the Ariadne project to find ways to structure the development of the energy transition. Ariadne is one of four Copernicus projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). During the project’s three-year duration, the researchers will investigate which policy instruments are suitable for achieving the climate goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. To better understand the effects of singular political measures and policy paths as well as to gain a perspective on the overall system, the project partners together with actors from politics, the energy transition and society will investigate meaningful strategies for the energy system transition and their public acceptance. The project continuously compiles its findings and results on a multimedia website. | Duration: 06/2020 - 05/2023

Process heat is needed for various production and cleaning purposes specially in the food industry, where process heat takes up a considerable part of the industrial total energy consumption. A number of optimisation measures can contribute to energy and cost reductions. Within the scope of the “DAST II TuPro” project, technical and economic possibilities should be identified at selected Tunisian production locations for the use of solar thermal technology and a foundation laid for the establishment of an energy management system. First, energy efficiency potentials are checked and their implementation chances evaluated. The selected companies operate in the food & beverages industry. A high portion of necessary process heat is typical for this industry. Systematic energy management is used to continuously increase the energy efficiency, mainly in energy-intensive companies. | Duration: 03/2013 - 03/2018

Project in the Business Area: Power Electronics, Grids and Smart Systems, Topic: Energy System Analysis, Duration: 02/2020 - 02/2021

In the “DekarAsphalt” project, Fraunhofer ISE is investigating the decarbonization of process heat supply in asphalt production through electrification. The project analyzes the integration of electric heaters, heat pumps, storage systems (including thermal and battery storage), and hydrogen to replace or reduce the use of fossil fuels and balance out the fluctuating power generation from renewable energy sources. The goal is to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and energy costs while simultaneously developing a practical roadmap for climate-neutral asphalt mixing plants. | Duration: 03/2025 - 09/2025

One of the main technical solutions for the transformation of the energy system is hydrogen production by water electrolysis, which makes it possible to convert electrical energy from volatile, renewable energy sources into a storable form of energy which can be used according to the demand in downstream applications. In cooperation with our partner institutes Fraunhofer ICT and Fraunhofer UMSICHT, we are developing novel materials, components and cell concepts for proton conducting membrane electrolysis, which uses an acidic membrane (PEM: polymer electrolyte membrane) as electrolyte. | Duration: 01/2019 - 12/2023