Leibniz Research Centre LiFE2050 – Transforming the Energy System - Research for Sustainable Energy Supply Solutions

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Confronted with climate change caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gases, it is now a global goal to replace the use of fossil fuels with energy sources from renewable processes. It is therefore of elementary importance for society to convert the energy supply to sustainable, i.e. long-term available and low-emission energy resources. The goal has been formulated to have achieved essential steps of this transformation process by 2050. Current studies in climate research show an acceleration in anthropogenic global warming. In order not to exceed the 1.5 degree target agreed upon in Paris, the process must consequently be completed much earlier. Leibniz University is pursuing the goal of achieving climate-neutral operation by 2031. To achieve this goal, we need to bundle disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary competencies.

 

Leibniz Universität Hannover has a long history in the field of energy research, especially in power plant technology, electrical energy technology, support structures for wind turbines and solar research. Research for a sustainable energy supply is bundled in the Leibniz Research Centre Energy 2050 (LiFE 2050), creating a cross-faculty network of about 30 LUH institutes. LiFE 2050 is also integrated into the Energy Research Centre of Lower Saxony (EFZN). This joint scientific centre brings together Lower Saxony's energy research competencies, actively participates in the ForWind Center for Wind Energy Research and closely cooperates with the affiliated ISFH institute in Hameln in the area of solar research.

Man’s efficient cause lives on in the actions of others
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

Thanks to the fact that Leibniz Universität Hannover provides all major scientific disciplines based on the model of the traditional universitas litterarum, we can draw upon a broad competency profile in interdisciplinary energy research to find solutions for a gradual transformation of the energy system towards renewable energy sources. This provides a solid foundation for finding answers to the following problems: How can energy be used more efficiently? How can we guarantee wind power, solar energy and bioenergy availability for electricity and heat supply throughout the whole year? How can we enable the switch to sustainable raw material sources, for example from coal to hydrogen for steel production? What will our power grids and decentralised energy generation plants of the future look like? What energy storage systems will we need in the future? Socio-political and economic framework conditions are important factors to consider in order to make the transformation process economically viable, and socially and environmentally compatible.

Further information on energy research can be found on the website https://www.energie.uni-hannover.de/en/

 

EFZN Energie Research Centre of Lower Saxony
ForWind – Center for Wind Energy Research
Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hameln (ISFH)
Dr. Volker Schöber
Geschäftsführer
Address
Leibniz Universität Hannover
Forschungszentrum LiFE2050
Appelstr. 11/11a
30167 Hannover
Building
Room
Dr. Volker Schöber
Geschäftsführer
Address
Leibniz Universität Hannover
Forschungszentrum LiFE2050
Appelstr. 11/11a
30167 Hannover
Building
Room