Energy

Projects

Taking energy further
DLR is involved in numerous and diverse energy projects, such as the efficient use of solar and wind energy, new energy storage systems and converters, the decarbonisation of industrial processes, the evolution of hydrogen technologies, the development of sustainable fuels for aviation and more.
DownloadDownload

DLR has been conducting energy research since the mid-1970s, contributing to an increasingly sustainable energy system. Projects are carried out by multidisciplinary national and international teams, which have access to the unique test and research facilities and extensive computing capabilities of DLR's large-scale research facilities.

DLR energy research is concerned, among other things, with the further development of technologies for generating electrical power or even hydrogen from renewable energy sources, with the development of modern and efficient energy storage systems, and with the modelling and simulation of the entire energy system. This page offers an insight into the diversity of DLR's energy projects.

April 28, 2022

Salt makes solar thermal power more cost-effective

Solar thermal power plants use concentrated sunlight to first generate heat and then electricity. They are already in use today in particularly sunny regions, such as Spain, the USA or Chile.

March 30, 2022

DLR and ZSW plan new test and innovation centre for water electrolysis

The German Aerospace Center and the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) are planning to establish a test and innovation centre for water electrolysis. The two institutions recently signed a memorandum to this effect.

October 6, 2021

Fuel cells for air transport – ground-breaking ceremony for the BALIS test field in Empfingen

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is constructing a globally unique test field on the Empfingen Innovation Campus in the northern Black Forest to develop and test fuel cell propulsion systems for various modes of transport, including aircraft.

September 2, 2021

New test facility for solar tower power plants

With the installation of a new radiation receiver at the solar tower of the German Aerospace Center in Jülich, a project to increase the performance of solar power plants has reached an important milestone. Together with partners from industry, tests under real power plant conditions will be carried out in the coming months.

More projects

Krummendeich Research Wind Farm WiValdi

A massive expansion of renewable energy is necessary for a reliable, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy supply in Germany, which goes hand in hand with increasing efficiency and acceptance. DLR is developing the research wind farm at its Krummendeich site in collaboration with partners from the Research Alliance Wind Energy.

August 11, 2021

Climate-neutral heating with lime – DLR develops pilot plant

DLR is developing a pilot plant for a thermochemical storage system based on quicklime. This enables buildings to be heated in a climate-neutral way. Together, DLR and the University of Stuttgart are now looking to test the technology outside a laboratory for the first time.

November 29, 2019

DLR opens research platform for decentralised energy supply in Stuttgart

The Decentralised Energy Technology Platform set up by the DLR Stuttgart is a unique facility for developing and testing combined heat and power plants based on microgas turbines under real conditions.

November 26, 2019

DLR opens the Emulation Centre for Networked Energy Systems (NESTEC) on the Oldenburg site

DLR is using a new type of laboratory to conduct research that will make the energy transition more cost-effective and efficient. The Emulation Centre for Networked Energy Systems (NESTEC) offers researchers a glimpse of the future of our power distribution grids.

July 5, 2018

H₂ORIZON – a new facility for renewable hydrogen production

DLR and industry partner ZEAG Energie AG have combined their technology and systems expertise at the new H2ORIZON research and demonstration facility.

April 13, 2018

DLR launches cross-sectoral Future Fuels project for interdisciplinary research into synthetic fuels

Eleven institutes at DLR are conducting research into synthetic fuels as part of the cross-sectoral Future Fuels project. Future fuels are essential for realising the energy transition because they can be stored easily, flexibly, efficiently and sustainably.

December 8, 2017

An energy-efficient neighbourhood in Oldenburg gets the green light

DLR´ s Institute of Networked Energy Systems is working with partners from industry and research to create an Energy-Efficient Neighbourhood (ENaQ) on a former military airbase in Oldenburg.

November 29, 2017

HYDROSOL_Plant: Hydrogen from sunlight

On 28 November 2017, DLR, together with international project partners, presented what is currently the largest solar-chemical installation for the production of hydrogen. In the HYDROSOL_Plant project, scientists and companies have jointly further developed the process of direct hydrogen production using solar radiation.

September 15, 2017

The power of salt

One hundred tons of molten salt circulate through the DLR test facility TESIS in Cologne. The molten salt is alternately heated and cooled from 250 to 560 degrees Celsius.