The future of energy: recommendations from science to politics
© HZB / Adobe Stock
Experts from HZB have contributed their expertise to the position papers briefly presented here. The topics include the development of innovative materials for a sustainable energy supply and the circular economy. Experts from different areas have jointly formulated solutions and recommendations for action.
Opportunities and challenges for the further development of energy research funding
This impulse paper was written by the advisory board for the energy research programme for applied energy research. This advisory board has the task of advising the Federal Government's Energy Ministry on the development of energy research funding and transfer. In the paper, the members from industry and research emphasise specific areas for action and make suggestions. For example: "We recommend that research and industrial policy objectives be more closely interlinked and addressed in suitable programmes. This includes agile project formats, which are particularly attractive for start-ups, as well as large programme lines in which consortia of companies cooperate with scientific institutions along value chains through to application."
To the position paper (Ger) >
Press release of the Federal ministry of economic affairs and climate action >
Innovative materials: the key to an affordable, safe and sustainable energy supply
This report was written by the Helmholtz Energy research field. It provides an overview of the development of innovative materials for sustainable energy systems and recommendations for action to politicans: the contents include the promotion of multidisciplinary research projects, investment in modern research infrastructures and the strengthening of industrial competitiveness as well as the creation of an innovation-friendly regulatory environment.
To the position paper (Ger) >
Circular economy as the basis for a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials and energy
This position paper was also written by Helmholtz Energy and emphasises the need for a sustainable circular economy to protect planetary resources and the environment, reduce dependence on imports and secure energy supplies.
To the position papier (Ger) >
Building a resilient solar industry
This position paper has been formulated by the German solar research and industry and contains strategic
recommendations for strengthening the solar industry and the energy transition.
To the position paper (Ger) >
- Long-term stability for perovskite solar cells: a big step forwardPerovskite solar cells are inexpensive to produce and generate a high amount of electric power per surface area. However, they are not yet stable enough, losing efficiency more rapidly than the silicon market standard. Now, an international team led by Prof. Dr. Antonio Abate has dramatically increased their stability by applying a novel coating to the interface between the surface of the perovskite and the top contact layer. This has even boosted efficiency to almost 27%, which represents the state-of-the-art. After 1,200 hours of continuous operation under standard illumination, no decrease in efficiency was observed. The study involved research teams from China, Italy, Switzerland and Germany and has been published in Nature Photonics.
- Energy of charge carrier pairs in cuprate compoundsHigh-temperature superconductivity is still not fully understood. Now, an international research team at BESSY II has measured the energy of charge carrier pairs in undoped La₂CuO₄. Their findings revealed that the interaction energies within the potentially superconducting copper oxide layers are significantly lower than those in the insulating lanthanum oxide layers. These results contribute to a better understanding of high-temperature superconductivity and could also be relevant for research into other functional materials.
- Electrocatalysis with dual functionality – an overviewHybrid electrocatalysts can produce green hydrogen, for example, and valuable organic compounds simultaneously. This promises economically viable applications. However, the complex catalytic reactions involved in producing organic compounds are not yet fully understood. Modern X-ray methods at synchrotron sources such as BESSY II, enable catalyst materials and the reactions occurring on their surfaces to be analysed in real time, in situ and under real operating conditions. This provides insights that can be used for targeted optimisation. A team has now published an overview of the current state of knowledge in Nature Reviews Chemistry.