Ongoing Research Project

How economically viable is solar thermal process heat in Germany? What role do investment grants from the EEW funding program play, and what is the economic viability compared to fossil fuel heat production? These questions were the focus of our study on the decarbonization of industrial heat through solar thermal process heat. Various collector technologies, temperature ranges and locations were evaluated using dynamic simulations and detailed cost models. The results show under which conditions solar thermal energy can already today provide a competitive and climate-friendly alternative to conventional heat generation. | Duration: 07/2024 - 12/2024

Electrical energy storage systems (EES) are crucial for the energy transition. The “BEST” project aims to develop an innovative process for the production of dry-processed battery electrodes for zinc-ion batteries. This process aims to significantly increase the efficiency and reproducibility of electrode production and eliminate time-consuming steps. By using sustainable PFAS-free binders in combination with innovative technologies, we aim to achieve cost-efficient and environmentally friendly production. | Duration: 02/2025 - 12/2025

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

Business Area: Hydrogen Technologies; Research Topic: Electrolysis and Hydrogen Infrastructure; Duration: 07/2022 - 03/2025

Small and medium-sized existing district heating networks are largely supplied by fossil gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants. The upcoming transformation of the generation sites to heat pump-based systems is associated with major challenges. On the one hand, significantly lower CO2 emissions are to be generated, and on the other hand, there will be changes in the supplied heating networks due to renovation, redensification and the connection of new areas. The »TrafoWärmeNetz« project provides support here with know-how by building up and bundling technical and planning knowledge across all service phases in accordance with the Fee Structure for Architects and Engineers (HOAI) in one tool. This enables a systematic and standardized conversion process with consistent comparability of individual projects. | Duration: 01/2024 - 12/2026

Project in the Business Area: Photovoltaics, Hydrogen Technologies and Electrical Energy Storage; Topic: Photovoltaic Modules and Power Plants, Battery System Technology; Field of Work: Integrated Photovoltaics; Duration: 10/2022 - 04/2026

As part of the “EPISODE” project, battery cells and battery storage systems based on sodium-ion cells are being developed in an innovative European value chain as a pioneering alternative to conventional lithium-ion battery storage systems. These innovative storage systems are characterized by their high energy density and remarkable longevity. Thanks to their very high energy efficiency, intrinsic safety and excellent recyclability, they represent a particularly sustainable product. At the end of the project, the performance of this technology will be impressively demonstrated with a 6.2 kWh battery storage system in continuous operation. | Duration: 12/2024 - 05/2028

Currently, more than half of German households are heated by gas and oil boilers. In addition to a dramatic dependence on fossil fuels, this accounts for over 50% of the energy consumption of the entire heating supply. Thanks to their efficiency, electric heat pumps (HPs) are significantly more climate-friendly and, when operated with electricity from renewable energy sources, can make a significant contribution to decarbonizing the heat supply and moving away from fossil fuels. In addition, the use of environmentally friendly refrigerants such as propane (R290) or butane (R600) is increasingly being enforced by law. Due to the high flammability of these refrigerants, permanent, technical tightness is becoming the focus of current heat pump developments. | Duration: 08/2023 - 07/2027

Innovative manufacturing technologies, e.g. for large-area displays, enable the cost-effective production of units consisting of thousands of interconnected semiconductor devices by miniaturization, additive manufacturing, parallelization and self-alignment. The objective of the "micro-CPV" joint project is to develop a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module based on these technologies. This shall enable high PV performance while at the same time exploiting cost reduction potentials in production. | Duration: 04/2020 - 12/2024

Electric vehicles are a core element of the energy transition. Besides stationary storage systems, vehicle batteries are predestined to balance load and generation in the electricity system in the short to medium term. The BiFlex-Industrie project aims to demonstrate specific use cases of bi-directional vehicles operated at commercial and indsutrial locations. The project partners want to work out business cases and the direct benefits of feed-in vehicle fleets for operators. We also want to demonstrate that they can be integrated into existing systems on a large scale and become the nucleus for fleet power plants - to optimize the operation of the company as well as the overarching electricity system.  | Duration: 10/2023 - 09/2026