The catalogue of topics is being expanded: Besides topics on generating power from solar and geothermal energy, research projects on biomass and solar fuel generation are being added. The research on photovoltaics continues to pursue the development of thin-layer solar cells to increase the degree of efficiency as close as possible to its theoretical limits with the lowest possible input of material and energy. Solarthermal power plants located in the earth’s sun belt could contribute substantially to the global generation of power as from around 2030. Commercial solar power plants have been built since several years, however with conservative technological approaches. The successful market launch of new technologies calls for further cost cuts. In the long-term, concentrating solar systems are to produce also solar fuels via thermal processes.

The geological subsurface in Germany offers great potential for generating heat and power. Geothermal research pools the competences of the participating centres to develop optimal technological solutions. The feasibility and economic efficiency of geothermal power generation is being studied in Groß Schönebeck.

The energetic use of biomass on basis of thermo-chemical processes and biogas production will become more sustainable in the second generation. The Bioliq procedure developed at the KIT and for which a representativ pilot plant was erected opens up new possibilities for this.