Climate change and its catastrophic consequences leave us with only one conclusion: there is no time to lose. Our energy supply must become carbon neutral as quickly as possible. At the same time, however, this transformation should also be affordable and socially sustainable.
To achieve this, scientists involved in the Research Field Helmholtz Energy are developing innovative technologies. They address issues related to the environmentally and climate-friendly generation, conversion, storage, and distribution of energy. Furthermore, they develop cross-sector energy system solutions that also factor in social dimensions. Jülich researchers are helping to shape this energy system of the future as scientific architects.
Forschungszentrum Jülich is involved in the programmes 'Energy System Design', 'Materials and Technologies for the Energy Transition' and 'Fusion' as well as ' Nuclear Waste Management, Safety and Radiation Research' ↓
There are many bright minds behind research in the field of ‘Matter’. Here you will find an overview of Jülich contact persons at the level of the Research Field and its programmes. ↓
Successful research is only possible in a network. Get an overview of the other Helmholtz Centres involved in this research field here. ↓
The Helmholtz programme “Energy System Design” aims to create a functional energy system that is technically and economically feasible and socially acceptable. To this end, Helmholtz researchers are developing the necessary models, methods, and technologies – including smart residential areas and urban districts, socio-economic studies, and digitally controlled European transmission grids.
Unique infrastructures, such as Jülich’s Living Lab Energy Campus, collaborate closely with partners from research and industry in order to quickly put solutions for a resilient, decentralized, and integrated energy system into practice.
The Helmholtz programme “Materials and Technologies for the Energy Transition” covers the entire value chain necessary for a sustainable transformation of energy supply and use.
Jülich’s researchers are focusing on photovoltaics, battery concepts, hydrogen and other chemical energy carriers, electrolysis and fuel cells, as well as high-temperature technologies. On the one hand, they research the fundamentals of electronic or atomic structures, their properties and functionalities. On the other hand, they design concepts for complete fuel cells, photovoltaic systems, batteries, hydrogen technologies, and gas turbines through the upscaling of basic demonstrators up to marketability. They also focus on ways in which material cycles can be closed and resources can be conserved. Their work is supported by advanced models and simulations on high-performance computers.
The sun and its stellar siblings serve as an example of how energy can be generated from the fusion of atomic nuclei. In the future, fusion reactors will make it possible to replicate these processes on Earth. The goal is to achieve a safe, environmentally friendly, and long-term energy supply.
The Helmholtz programme “Fusion” is based on three pillars: the construction of the ITER tokamak in France, the operation and further expansion of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Greifswald, and the preparation of a demonstration power plant.
All fusion power plants have in common the extreme plasma temperatures of more than 100 million °C. Using strong magnetic fields, the plasma is controlled and thus the surrounding wall structure is protected. However, there are still significant interactions between the wall and the plasma. Jülich researchers address this interdisciplinary topic, which affects fusion reactors of all types.
The last nuclear power plant in Germany was taken off the grid on 15 April 2023. Nevertheless, the safety of existing nuclear facilities and the safe disposal and storage of radioactive waste must be guaranteed for long periods of time.
The Helmholtz programme “Nuclear Waste Management, Safety and Radiation Research (NUSAFE)” is dedicated to the safety assessment of nuclear reactors and the protection of the population and the environment from radiation exposure.
The experts at Forschungszentrum Jülich are investigating how radioactive waste changes over time and how it can be stored safely in final repositories. Together with researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, they are also evaluating the safety and reliability of existing and new nuclear power plants in other states and neighbouring countries.
There are many bright minds behind research in the field of 'Energy'. Here you will find an overview of Jülich contact persons at the level of the research field and its programmes. Further specific contact persons can be found on the relevant topic pages.
This field is coordinated by Helmholtz Vice President for the Research Field Energy Bernd Rech (HZB). The programme spokespersons are Veit Hagenmeyer from the KIT (Energy System Design), Olivier Gullion from the Forschungszentrum Jülich (Materials and Technologies for the Energy Transition), Robert Wolf from the Max-Planck-Institute for Plasmaphysics (associated partner Fusion) as well as Dirk Bosbach from the Forschungszentrum Jülich (Nuclear Waste Management, Safety and Radiation Research, NUSAFE).
The centers that are involved in Helmholtz Energy during PoF IV are the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, (HZB), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) is scientifically associated with Helmholtz Energy.
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