Oldenburg's energy research receives millions in funding: the university is involved in four sub-projects in the EFZN programme "Transformation of Lower Saxony's Energy System".
The aim of the programme is to strategically develop Lower Saxony's energy research by 2030. In a team of 180 researchers at 15 universities, universities of applied sciences and other partners in Lower Saxony, Oldenburg scientists will be researching solutions for a climate-neutral future over the next five years. The university is involved in four sub-projects and the transfer programme, taking a leading role in three of them. The projects are bundled via the Energy Research Centre of Lower Saxony (EFZN), a joint scientific centre of the universities of Oldenburg, Braunschweig, Clausthal, Göttingen and Hanover. The spokesperson for the EFZN board and the new research programme is Oldenburg-based Computing Science Professor Sebastian Lehnhoff. The state of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation are funding the TEN.efzn joint project with a total of 58.2 million euros from the zukunft.niedersachsen programme.
President Prof. Dr. Ralph Bruder is delighted with the university's success: "The great weight that the University of Oldenburg has in the new research programme reflects its formative role in Lower Saxony's energy research. Whether wind energy research, energy informatics or research into the social challenges of the energy transition: Broad collaboration across disciplinary boundaries has always been our strength. The University of Oldenburg will also contribute its expertise as a founding university and pioneer in lifelong learning to the transfer of research results to society. After all, the energy transition continues to need new ideas and well-trained specialists."
The research platforms involving the university at a glance:
Real-world laboratory 70 GW offshore wind
In the "Real-world laboratory 70 GW offshore wind" (funding amount: 16.9 million euros), the planned expansion of wind energy in the German North Sea by 2045 is being analysed and monitored holistically from a socio-technical perspective. The spokesperson is the Oldenburg physicist Prof. Dr Kerstin Avila from the ForWind Centre for Wind Energy Research, the coordinator is ForWind Managing Director Dr Stephan Barth. The sub-project is working on development paths for achieving the planned 70 gigawatts of offshore capacity and translating these into action strategies for sustainable expansion in cooperation with the wind industry
Trustworthy digitalisation of safety-critical energy systems
In this research platform, the project team is investigating how citizens' trust in an increasingly decentralised energy system controlled by digital processes can be maintained - and how this in turn contributes to a more secure energy system. To this end, the researchers are developing a trust model that combines technical and sociological perspectives. It will be used as a theoretical basis for the development of trustworthy neighbourhood energy systems. This trust model will be tested in practice in a real-world laboratory and continuously reflected upon and improved. The team of spokespersons consists of Oldenburg energy computer scientist Prof Dr Astrid Nieße and her colleague Prof Dr Sebastian Lehnhoff. The funding amounts to 8.2 million euros.
Social dynamics of energy transformation
The aim of this research platform is to investigate the social science issues surrounding the energy transition. Social scientist Prof Dr Jannika Mattes is co-spokesperson for the sub-project. In close coordination with the technical research platforms, the researchers are analysing the social dynamics of the energy transformation in relation to the technical developments. Through this socio-technical perspective, the research platform will shed light on questions of justice, the common good and equality of living conditions in the context of the energy transition and develop solutions for an integrative and socially acceptable transformation process. Funding amount: 5.5 million euros.
State Research Training Group "Hydrogen and hydrogen derivative ammonia"
Oldenburg chemist Prof Dr Michael Wark is involved in the state research training group, which is being funded with 5.5 million euros. In the sub-project, young scientists are researching the potential of regeneratively produced ammonia, which could play an important role in the energy system in the future as another energy source alongside hydrogen.
EFZN transfer
The research platforms are linked via a transfer system, which is funded with 8.3 million euros. It is intended to promote dialogue between science, industry, politics and civil society. The aim is to put research findings into practice in a timely manner, support innovations and start-ups and promote the training of skilled workers. Oldenburg economist Prof Dr Klaus Fichter is co-spokesperson for this transfer system. Within the research programme, the university's C3L - Center for Lifelong Learning is working with the EFZN to develop a Lower Saxony-wide education and knowledge hub for the energy transition. The new EFZN Academy will be set up at five locations over the next five years.
