We set goals to embed climate protection and efficient energy use within our organizational structures. In this way, we lay the foundations for actively helping to shape sustainable solutions for society and for the Forschungszentrum Jülich as an institution.
Content
CO2 Emissions
Since 2016, Forschungszentrum Jülich has been implementing a comprehensive climate protection plan that is continuously refined and adapted to current conditions. By 2024, the organization had already surpassed the German government’s 2030 climate protection target, and CO₂ emissions were reduced by 68% compared to 1990 levels, despite an increase in the number of employees. This success, which corresponds to CO₂ savings of over 82,000 tons, was driven by key measures such as the commissioning of a new combined heat and power plant, energy-efficient building renovations, the switch to green electricity, and numerous individual energy-saving measures. To achieve climate neutrality by 2045, Forschungszentrum Jülich combines continuous efficiency improvements with an advanced energy management system and interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce consumption without compromising research.
Greenhouse Gas Balance
For many years, Forschungszentrum Jülich has been tracking Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions as part of its greenhouse gas inventory. In the future, we will also track Scope 3 emissions. By switching to green electricity and discontinuing the use of district heating to supply the campus in Jülich, we almost eliminated Scope 2 emissions since 2024. The campus’s heat supply is currently based on the combustion of natural gas. Natural gas consumption is to be significantly reduced in the coming years by using biogas and waste heat from the supercomputer.