The future of energy: recommendations from science to politics
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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) >
- AI agents deliver results – but do they reason scientifically?A research team co-led by Kevin Maik Jablonka from the Helmholtz Institute for Polymers in Energy Applications Jena (HIPOLE Jena) and N. M. Anoop Krishnan from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has developed Corral, a new benchmark for AI agents in science. The preprint “AI scientists produce results without reasoning scientifically” has been published on arXiv (https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2604.18805). The analysis shows that current systems can execute scientific workflows and deliver results; however, they often do not follow the basic principles of scientific testing and reasoning.
- Magnetic field during catalyst synthesis triples ammonia yieldApplying an external magnetic field during the synthesis of CoFe₂O₄ electrocatalysts triples the ammonia yield during electrocatalytic conversion. The magnetic field alters the surface states of the spinel oxide thin films, making catalytically active sites more accessible. In the journal 'Advanced Functional Materials', a team led by Marcel Risch at HZB and Sanjay Mathur at University of Cologne demonstrates a scalable strategy for developing next-generation electrocatalysts for efficient and sustainable chemical production.
- Materials chemistry shapes the future of catalysisThe synthesis of materials can serve as a tool for developing smart, adaptive electrocatalysts. This rapidly evolving field of research involves in-situ analytics, data-driven discoveries and autonomous robotics. These new approaches could accelerate the discovery of long-lasting and efficient catalysts for future energy conversion and the decarbonisation of the chemical industry. A recent article by Dr Prashanth Menezes and his team in the renowned journal Angewandte Chemie provides an overview of this research.