Storing large amounts of renewable energy is one of the key challenges of the energy transition. Thermal and thermochemical energy storage systems convert electrical energy into heat or chemically bound energy and make it available again when needed—as electricity, heat, or in the form of green molecules. The various storage technologies each offer different advantages. While thermal storage systems enable simple sector coupling and cost-effective, scalable storage capacity, chemical energy storage systems offer large storage capacities with high energy density as well as long-term storage.
A particular focus of the research is on the production of CO₂-free energy carriers such as synthetic natural gas (SNG), on the use of biomass for energy, and on methods for capturing and storing CO₂, for example from industrial processes or directly from the atmosphere. In this way, the research field contributes to advancing a CO₂-free energy supply through technologies for energy storage, material conversion, and CO₂ capture.