Research Emphasis: Renewable Energies

Coping strategies for climate change and necessary improvements in the power industry are becoming more and more important in societal debates. Central issues in this discussion are not only the possibilities and potential of renewable energies, but also their ecological consequences as well as economical and climatologic efficiency.

Via political incentive renewable energies are gaining momentum and fulfilling needs in the three energy sectors, power, heat and transportation. In a sustainable economic system renewable energies constitute an important factor in cooperation with efficient energy application and energy saving. However, open questions are not only about technical matters concerning biomass, solar energy, wind and water power or geothermic energies. It is also important for the previously underestimated ecological and economical aspects to be included.

The University of Applied Forest Sciences approaches these questions with an all inclusive attempt at offering the foundation for the conversion to sustainable solutions.

The main focuses are:

• Operational biomass potential
• Production of biomass considering the relationship between climate change and ecosystems
• Development, adaptation and application of innovative technical processes and information technology
• Environmental importance of biogenic combustibles and conversion systems
• Intelligent integration of biomass logistics and conversion systems into regional energy supply
• Instruments and procedures for an effective and efficient quality management in bioenergies
• Identification of potentials, risks and limitations of bioenergy concepts; strategies to avoid negative effects
• Value-added chain “renewable energies”: analysis and description of micro- and macroeconomic effects.

Research projects are carried out in close connection with the diverse subject offerings at HFR and the numerous research partners in the application of renewable energies.