Energy Symposium 2025: Powering the Future - Accelerating the Energy Transition

Patrick Jochem (DLR): Intermittent Renewables and Hydrogen Production in European Carbon-Neutral Energy Systems  

Samantha Michaux (Ineratec): Modularity: the game-changer for commercial scale e-Fuel production from Power-to-X/PtX 

Daniel Banuti (KIT): Hydrogen for the Energy Transition 

Sophia Henneberg (IPP): Advancing the Frontiers of Fusion: Background, Breakthroughs, and Burning Ambitions

Theresa Klütz (FZJ): Storing Energy: The Different Roles of Storage Technologies in Energy Systems Analysis

Annelies Vandersickel (DLR): Harnessing Heat: Advancements in High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage 

Yan Lu (HZB): Exploration of cathode materials for Li-S batteries

Antonio Conejo (The Ohio State University): Rethinking Electricity Market Design: Lessons Learned and Future Needs

Robert Cox (University of North Carolina in Charlotte): Planning the Net Zero Grid of 2050 

Giovanni De Carne (KIT): Power Hardware In the Loop: how experiments can accelerate the energy transition 

Institute for Technical Physics (ITEP) - Superconductivity

Guided tour of our laboratories featuring cutting-edge research: compact wind generators, high-performance cables and conductors, production of superconductors, and innovative magnets.

Hydrogen Test Center HYKA

Studies on the behavior of hydrogen in accident scenarios. The investigations focus on hydrogen release, mixing, ignition, combustion, and their effects, including complex environments and on industry-relevant scales. HYKA comprises multiple large experimental chambers and test cells, equipped with advanced measurement technologies.

Energy Lab - Honeycomb & 3P-Methanation

Experimental facilities for the production, liquefaction, and storage of synthetic, renewable methane derived from hydrogen and CO₂ - an essential component of the energy transition.

Battery Technology Center (BATEC) - Pilot Line

A pilot line for the industrial scaling of battery cell production, featuring state-of-the-art equipment for slurry mixing, coating & drying, calendaring, and cell assembly.

Battery Technology Center (BATEC) - Sythesis of Battery Materials

Flexible pilot plants for the synthesis of battery materials (up to 10kg) for battery cell production.

X-SPEC Beamline at the KIT Light Source

The X-SPEC beamline is a high-flux X-ray spectroscopy facility with a globally unique energy range, spanning both soft and hard X-rays. This exceptional instrument enables detailed investigations into the electronic and chemical structures of advanced material systems, offering unparalleled insights for applied research.

Insttute of Technology and Management in Construction - Test Hall

Showcasing current projects on the deconstruction and decommissioning of conventional and nuclear buildings.

Building Prototype RoofKIT

Winner of the Solar Decathlon Europe 2022 - a groundbreaking prototype for 100% circular construction and CO₂-neutral energy supply. It integrates innovative technologies such as PVT collectors, geothermal energy, and a heat pump for sustainable energy solutions.

Energy Lab - Overview

Europe´s largest research infrastructure for renewable energy focuses on exploring the intelligent integration of eco-friendly energy generators and storage solutions. Future energy systems are simulated and tested using real consumer data. The facility´s interconnected system integrates electrical. thermal, and chemical energy flows with cutting-edge information and communication technologies.

Microwave Plasma Laboratory

The laboratory develops plasma reactors for the chemical storage of surplus electrical energy and optimizes the associated processes. The primary focus is on the decomposition of CO₂ int CO, which serves as a key component in the production of synthetic fuels.

HEPHAISTOS Experimental Center (HEC)

HEPHAISTOS revolutionizes energy-efficient industrial microwave processes with its modular chamber systems. Designed for material treatment, they archieve exceptional field uniformity at 2,45 GHz, solving a long-standing challenge in industrial microwave technology.

KIT FULGOR Gyrotron Test Facility

Gyrotrons are high-power microwave sources used for microwave plasma heating in fusion experiments and future fusion power plants. KIT operates the world´s most advanced and powerful test facility for gyrotrons, capable of handling input powers of up to 10 megawatts and frequencies up to 240 GHz.

Karlsruhe Research Factory for AI-Integrated Production

KIT has developed an agile battery cell manufacturing process to enable greater flexibility in future production. By leveraging highly flexible, robot-based automation, a level of adaptability has been archieved that was previously only possible in manual cell manufacturing.

Heidi Heinrichs (FZJ): Material Bottlenecks of the Energy Transition – Exemplary Case Studies from a Systems Perspective

Karl Gerald van den Boogaart (HZDR): The Role of Information and Energy for Closing Material Cycles

Christoph Brabec (FZJ): A hybrid workflow to discover optimized materials and processes for the energy transition

Wolf Fichtner (KIT): Flexibility in the electricity system – surplus or bottleneck?  

Energy innovations N.N

Energy System Transformation N.N

Energy Lab - Overview                                                                    
Europe's largest research infrastructure for renewable energy focuses on exploring the intelligent integration of eco-friendly energy generators and storage solutions. Future energy systems are simulated and tested using real consumer data. The facility's interconnected system integrates electrical, thermal, and chemical energy flows with cutting-edge information and communication technologies.

Microwave Plasma Laboratory
The laboratory develops plasma reactors for the chemical storage of surplus electrical energy and optimizes the associated processes. The primary focus is on the decomposition of CO₂ into CO, which serves as a key component in the production of synthetic fuels.

HEPHAISTOS Experimental Center (HEC)
HEPHAISTOS revolutionizes energy-efficient industrial microwave processes with its modular chamber systems. Designed for material treatment, they achieve exceptional field uniformity at 2.45 GHz, solving a long-standing challenge in industrial microwave technology.

KIT FULGOR Gyrotron Test Facility
Gyrotrons are high-power microwave sources used for microwave plasma heating in fusion experiments and future fusion power plants. KIT operates the world's most advanced and powerful test facility for gyrotrons, capable of handling input powers of up to 10 megawatts and frequencies up to 240 GHz.

Karlsruhe Liquid Metal Laboratory (KALLA)
Research on the use of liquid metals in technical processes. Their unique properties make them outstanding heat transfer fluids, but they also come with specific challenges. Our facilities range from laboratory-scale setups to one of the largest liquid metal loops in Europe, where we are developing experiments for industrial high-temperature heat storage systems.

Institute for Applied Materials – Electrochemical Technologies (IAM-ET) - Laboratories
Research on energy and resource conversion as well as energy storage. Analysis and optimization of a wide range of electrochemical technologies, including batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis, and electrosynthesis. The institute features state-of-the-art laboratories for fuel cells and electrolysis, equipped with test stands for high- and low-temperature cells, as well as facilities for the electrosynthesis of chemicals and fuels, and advanced battery research.

Engler-Bunte Institute – Fuel Technology - Laboratories and Pilot Plants
Experimental and pilot-scale facilities for the conversion of renewable chemical energy carriers, including hydrogen, synthetic methane, methanol, and fuels.

Karlsruhe Research Factory for AI-Integrated Production
KIT has developed an agile battery cell manufacturing process to enable greater flexibility in future production. By leveraging highly flexible, robot-based automation, a level of adaptability has been achieved that was previously only possible in manual cell manufacturing.

In this workshop, we aim to discover the fundamentals of good team leadership. Our interactive session will reflect on your experiences and explore steps to build trust, communicate clearly, and lead a team successfully. We will work in both individual and group settings to develop practical skills and integrate diverse perspectives.

In this brief workshop, you will reflect on your current stage in your PhD or postdoc journey, gain insight into possible career paths, and explore your next career steps.

Discover the art of clear communication in our practice-oriented workshop for young researchers! Get to know communication types, apply Schulz von Thun's theories and sharpen your perception. In this workshop, you will learn how to avoid misunderstandings and convey your message clearly and unambiguously. Practical exercises and role-playing games will help you to consolidate the techniques you have learned.

How can you deliberately develop novel ideas? This workshop introduces tactics for facilitating greater originality in closing knowledge gaps, e.g.:

• Careful problem analysis
• Adopting different perspectives
• Modifying existing solutions

In this brief workshop, you will evaluate your current network, reflect on its strengths and gaps, and explore strategies to expand and enhance your professional connections.

This workshop is aimed at young researchers who want to improve their networking skills and make valuable professional connections. Whether you are at the beginning of your career or have already gained some experience - this is the right place for you!

Learn proven strategies and tips on how to build valuable professional networks. Put what you have learned directly into practice and practise networking in a supportive environment. Meet like-minded people and build a strong network of young researchers.

Using generative AI as a professional tool in academia. This workshop introduces potential use cases of ChatGPT in researchers’ daily business, e.g. for

• Ideation: developing ideas for problem-solving
• Synthesis: analysing documents and information
• Communication: drafting and editing documents

In the workshop, we want to reflect on previous leadership experiences and place them in the context of an opening, appreciative attitude for good cooperation. Short inputs on positive leadership and Benedictine leadership practice will alternate with individual and group work phases.

The Energy Symposium 2025 will take place at  

KIT Campus North 

FTU and pavilion in front of FTU 

Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1 

76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 

There is a hotel contingent available at Motel One. Please use this form for your reservation.