Renewable energies
Transparency and participation are important goals of the German government in its 7th Energy Research Programme. The Energy Research Networks therefore provide an important energy research policy instrument for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz, BMWK). They make a significant contribution to networking all the key players in a core area of energy research and to participating in strategy processes.
The Renewable Energy Network was founded on 6 April 2016 in the presence of 150 representatives from business, science and politics at the BMWK in Berlin. With the topics of wind energy and photovoltaics, the network initially includes the technologies that supply the largest share of electricity from renewable energy sources in Germany. Parallel to the foundation, a joint intranet was activated to provide a working basis for sharing ideas and organising a suitable structure.
Photovoltaics
Five working groups are addressing all approaches in order, firstly, to further improve the integration of photovoltaics into the energy systems and, secondly, to further reduce the electricity production costs of photovoltaics. This includes ensuring the high quality and high efficiency of the wafers and modules, a long service life, low manufacturing and material costs as well as flexible system architectures. Successful concepts are being further developed and new approaches are being investigated.
Wind power
The wind power section is divided into four working groups and two cross-group technical committees. The focus is also on approaches to further reduce electricity generation costs and to optimally integrate the technology into the energy supply system – and society as a whole. The aim is to further expand wind power.
Office: Project Management Jülich
As the office for the Energy Research Networks, Project Management Jülich provides the contact point for all interested stakeholders.
In addition, Project Management Jülich’s "Energy System: Renewable Energies / Power Plant Technology" (ESE) division also provides coordinators as contact persons for technical aspects relating to the Renewable Energies Network.
