Ongoing Research Project

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

Floating PV, in order to assist the transition to a climate-neutral and resilient society and contribute to the EU policy goals, must overcome three challenges that are also emphasized in the Work Programme. Firstly, FPV (Floating PV) needs to demonstrate its sustainability by showing its low impact on biodiversity and meeting end-of-life requirements. Secondly, it must verify its longevity and reliability by ensuring system components meet structural and functional requirements throughout their entire lifecycle. Lastly, FPV needs to establish its affordability by reducing the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) from FPV power plants. | Duration: 09/2024 - 08/2027

Shaping the energy transition is the subject of a comprehensive research process that brings together 27 research institutions in the “Ariadne” project. ARIADNE is one of four Kopernikus projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). During the three-year term of the project, research will be conducted into which policy instruments are suitable for achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Protection Agreement. From a better understanding of the impact of individual political measures and policy paths to an overview of the overall system - together with stakeholders from politics, the energy transition and society, the project is investigating sensible strategies for the energy transition and their acceptance by citizens. The project continuously compiles findings and results on a multimedia website. | Duration: 09/2023 - 08/2026

In the long term, environmental heat from lakes and rivers will be an important source of energy. However, Germany has so far lacked a consistently developed environmental regulatory framework and targeted technical solutions based on this. In the “FluSeeQ” project, the water systems are to be structured in terms of their thermo-ecological properties, the technically and economically optimal solutions are to be developed for different performance classes, taking into account the respective ecological requirements, and the potential that can be tapped for Germany is to be derived on this basis. | Duration: 09/2024 - 08/2028

The decarbonization of companies is an important element of the energy transition. Many small and medium-sized enterprises are located in industrial or commercial areas. The muncipal heat planning covering these areas do not always account for the decarbonization strategies and possibilites of these companies. Furthermore, their decarbonization strategies depend heavily on the requirements of individual production processes. Due to the diverse composition of commercial areas, there are currently no standards for developing holistic transformation paths. This is where the Ind-Supply research project comes in. The aim is to develop a planning tool for industrial areas that will support planners and municipalities in complex energy supply decisions, thereby enabling climate- and resource-optimized development. The project is a joint research project between Prognos AG, greenventory GmbH, Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA), and Fraunhofer ISE. | Duration: 10/2024- 09/2027

Municipal heat planning (MTP) is the cornerstone of a successful local heat transition, as the diversity of renewable heat sources and local building structures requires individual solutions adapted to each municipality. But how can the sum of individual solutions be compatible with achieving national climate targets in the various sectors in the long term? What interactions occur between local planning, transport infrastructure planning and energy market developments? How can municipal heating plans be evaluated automatically in order to answer these questions in the first place? Scientists from the Öko-Institut, EWI and Fraunhofer ISE as well as employees from Trianel and digikoo look into these questions in the joint project KOMpare. | Duration: 01/2025- 12/2027

Intelligent energy management in smart living and building environments can contribute to the energy transition, for example by increasing the use of renewable energies through controlled consumption or by providing flexibility potential for the system. The central objective of the »FAME4ME« research project is to investigate the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in relation to future energy services for private end customers dealing with topics such as smart meters, energy management and time-variable electricity tariffs. The project is supported by the BMWK as part of the SmartLivingNEXT funding program. | Duration: 02/2024 - 07/2026

Zur Erreichung von Klimaneutralität ist die Erzeugung von grünem Wasserstoff für verschiedene Sektoren, wie die Hochtemperaturindustrie, die Chemieindustrie und Mobilität unabdingbar. Die Protonen-Austausch-Membran (PEM)-Elektrolyse bietet die Möglichkeit zur effizienten Erzeugung von Wasserstoff mittels erneuerbarer Energien. In PEMPIRE soll hierfür ein kostengünstiger und langzeitrobuster PEM-Elektrolyse-Stack entwickelt werden, der neuartige Materialien, wie Membran-Elektroden-Einheiten mit geringer Edelmetallbeladung, vorweist. | Laufzeit: 01/2026 - 12/2028

Einleitungstext | Laufzeit: 01/2023 - 12/2026

The energy transition in the EU is resulting in a potential increase in resource requirements as well as relocation effects of raw material-related emissions abroad. Material efficiency, material substitution and the circular economy are increasingly being supported by political framework conditions, both to reduce the environmental impact of material production and to reduce supply risks in the supply chains. At the same time, the issue of local production and value creation to strengthen technological sovereignty is being given concrete form (e.g. IPCEI battery, EU Solar Energy Strategy, EU Critical Raw Materials Act, National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS)). However, detailed assessments of the effects of these resource strategies, taking into account the EU objectives in terms of environmental impact, energy requirements, resource requirements, costs of the energy transition and supply chain security and a recommendation on strategies for measures and instruments to leverage potential for sustainable and resource-saving developments are lacking. | Duration: 01/2025 - 12/2027