HI ERN | EN

Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy

The Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN) investigates and develops material- and process-based solutions for a climate-neutral, sustainable, and cost-effective utilization of renewable energies. The institute works on the structural and functional characterization, modeling, and processing of materials relevant to hydrogen and solar technology. The common goal is the understanding of structure-performance-process relationship on the mesoscale.

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RECENT NEWS

2 June 2025

New method developed for identifying side products in LOHC systems

Repetitive storage cycles can give rise to undesirable side products that deposit on catalysts and impair their function. Using a special analytical method, these side products can now be precisely identified and their structures determined. This will enable processes to be optimized in the future in order to minimize contamination and reduce costs and resource consumption.

16 May 2025

Dr. Yi-Hsuan Wu receives Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdocs

For his work in the field of Electrochemical Glycerol Oxidation (GOR), Dr. Yi-Hsuan Wu received the Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdocs. The goal of his research is to improve product selectivity and stability in the electrochemical oxidation of glycerol. Optimizing the catalysts will help to make the electrochemical conversion of glycerol more efficient - an important step towards sustainable hydrogen production and value creation from biomass.

13 May 2025

Transition to zero-emission energy "costs" 1% of global GDP

The transition to an emissions-neutral energy system requires an investment of about 1% of global GDP. This is comparable to major historical projects. This is the conclusion of Dr. Ian Marius Peters (HI ERN) and Prof. Christian Breyer (LUT University, Finland) in their latest study. The results were recently published in the journal Joule.

7 April 2025

Prof. Christoph Brabec new member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities

Membership in the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities is one of the highest scientific honors in Bavaria. The plenum elected a total of 14 scientists as new members. All members must have contributed to a "significant expansion of knowledge" in their field through their research.

7 April 2025

Great honor: Three HI ERN researchers at the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

Dr. Tatiana Priamushko, Joanna Przybysz and Nico Röttcher, three talented young researchers, have been selected to take part in the coveted event. During the event they will have the opportunity to come into contact with numerous Nobel Prize winners and present their own research to a high-caliber audience.

14 March 2025

Navigating the Energy Transition in Korea and Germany: KAST-Leopoldina Perspectives

The paper covers the fields of solar technologies, hydrogen, batteries, grid management, and future energy sources. It highlights scientific challenges, identifies priorities for bilateral research, and offers recommendations for policymakers in Korea and Germany. This joint paper builds on the proceedings of the 8th bilateral symposium by Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) and German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

UPCOMING Events

10 July 2025 | Erlangen

Save the date: CareerDay 2025

Networking with industry partners of the institute, job fair and personal insights into the careers of HI ERN alumni: after the successful kick-off event last year, HI ERN PhD students can once again take away important impulses and contacts for their own career planning at this year's CareerDay. Further information will follow.

25 October 2025 | Nuremberg and Erlangen

Save the date: Long Night of Sciences 2025

Curious visitors welcome! Exhibits and the direct exchange with our scientists offer interested parties exciting insights into the work of the HI ERN and illustrate the scope of our research in the field of renewable energies.

Degree programme | Lecture series

Study for a better future with Clean Energy Processes

The energy transition is one of the great challenges of our time: Where will energy come from in the future? And how can it be stored and used efficiently in a sustainable chemical industry? The focus is on sustainable production as well as the distribution and use of renewable energies for industry - always taking into account socio-economic, ecological and legal factors. Students benefit from a research-strong, interdisciplinary approach as well as FAU's close ties to HI ERN.