Location & getting there

The Institute's main site is located in Geesthacht, south-east of Hamburg. Founded in 2020, the Institute of Maritime Energy Systems became the first DLR research facility in Schleswig-Holstein. Scientists there are working on innovative technologies to decarbonise shipping - i.e. to move away from conventional energy supply based on carbon-containing fossil fuels in maritime transport - and to reduce pollutant emissions.

Since 1 January 2024, the DLR Institute has been located at Düneberger Straße 108, Geesthacht. This is where the construction of the large-scale infrastructure will begin in order to test the new energy systems to be developed, initially in standardised laboratory environments and later under real conditions on a research vessel.

The DLR-Institute is also setting up further laboratories and offices in the state capital of Kiel, where efficiency technologies such as fuel cell systems for ships or application and storage options for alternative fuels at sea and on land are being developed. In co-operation with industry, application-oriented solutions are developed and put into practice.