Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.

The Energy-System of the Future

The energy system of the future must be sustainable, economical, socially acceptable, and reliable in its provision. DLR energy research supports this goal with the help of the development of components and systems for the provision of plannable, sustainable energy for transport, industry and private households.

To this end, DLR is pursuing three different, closely interlinked paths:

First, technologies for power and heat generation must be combined with storage technologies to ensure a continuous supply.
Second, renewable energies can be used to generate chemical energy carriers (synthetic fuels), which can then be converted into electricity, heat or basic materials for industry as needed, or used directly for mobility.
Third, all components must be part of an intelligent overall energy system to ensure optimized operation and sector integration.

DLR also conducts a wide range of research in energy system analysis, which is necessary for the design and understanding of the future energy system. Technology assessment is used to determine the potential of energy technologies for the energy system, while scenario analyses are used to analyze concepts for a sustainable energy supply. The aim is to design the future sustainable energy system in the best possible way according to many criteria and to identify development paths and control mechanisms.