The research topics of the EFK BS are P2X technologies, energy systems and sector coupling. These are worked on by several member institutes and employees in various research projects. The research focus within the EFK is set up in such a way that contributions can be made to the energy value creation and energy utilization chain of the future. The goal of the EFK BS is to position itself more strongly within the topic areas of "intelligent decentralized energy systems and storage". The motto "small, scalable, intelligent" is used as a guiding principle for future projects. The EFK BS is involved in the EFZN lead project "System services for secure power grids in times of advancing energy transition and digital transformation" (SINED). In addition, the EFK BS is represented in the EFZN research network Hydrogen Lower Saxony.

In the research field "Sustainable Energy Systems", researchers at Clausthal University of Technology are looking for answers to the question of how a secure energy supply can be guaranteed with fluctuating renewable energy sources. Professors from the fields of materials science, physical technologies, energy systems engineering, process engineering, and law and economics are cooperating in this effort. The focus is on concepts that can be used to convert, store and retrieve "green" surplus electricity. These include short-term storage of electrical energy for the stability of power grids or conversion into material media such as compressed air and hydrogen for long-term storage in underground caverns. New business models are intended to make such scenarios attractive to the energy industry in order to increase security of supply. Sector coupling between electricity, heat, transport and industry plays an important role here, for example through power-to-gas plants. Regenerative electrical energy is converted into hydrogen or synthetic natural gas via electrolysis, stored, transported and then converted back again. Important aspects are the elucidation of fundamental processes, the minimization of conversion losses, system integration, and economic and ecological evaluation.

The research topics of Göttingen Energy Research result from the long-standing activities in the various institutions at the site. They make individual contributions to energy research and are intended to individually tie in with and complement the applied issues in the EFZN from the side of basic research with a broad spectrum of topics and methods. No thematic bundling of the individual Göttingen projects for energy research is planned. In the field of molecular and material sciences, energy conversion processes and dynamic processes on surfaces are investigated at the molecular level. The energetic use of renewable agricultural and forestry raw materials requires consideration of and compliance with economic, ecological and social standards. Energy research focuses in the field of hydrogeology of georeservoirs. Flow, heat, mass transport as well as geomechanical processes in deep georeservoirs are investigated. The term "socio-scientific energy research" can be used to summarize cross-sectional research from the fields of economics, social sciences and law.

LiFE 2050 aims to make research contributions to a sustainable, affordable and reliable energy system. This energy system must also be environmentally friendly and, in particular, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The focus is on the transformation process from a system with large conventional energy generation plants to a system with many small decentralized generation plants based on renewable energies. Research in wind energy addresses the entire wind energy system and ranges from the foundation, wave loads (offshore), support structures and their building materials to aeroelasticity, rotor blades, gearboxes, bearings and generators to power electronic energy conversion and grid integration. The main focus of solar energy research is on crystalline silicon photovoltaics, low-temperature solar thermal energy and the development of decentralized solar energy supply systems for electricity and heat. Research on thermal power plants with the main objectives of increasing flexibility and efficiency is carried out jointly by the institutes of thermodynamics, technical combustion, turbomachinery, power plant systems, materials science, dynamics and vibrations, electrical machines and business informatics. The electrical supply network is studied by five electrical power engineering disciplines, supplemented by economics and environmental planning. In electromobility, research focuses primarily on the powertrain (electric and hybrid) including transmission, on grid integration, and on car-sharing and urban logistics.

Oldenburg's energy research is characterized by its interdisciplinary cooperation. University actors work closely together with non-university partners. The content structure as well as the range of topics are shown in the adjacent figure. All nine fields mentioned in the three pillars "Materials", "Systems" and "Organization" are characterized by a relevant research and personnel strength, so that a supraregional cooperation capability is also ensured across the board in corresponding EFZN joint projects.