Press Releases 2020

Falling costs for solar panels and wind turbines equals lower CO2 emissions in the energy sector – if this equation is correct, it would a big step towards achieving the Paris climate goals. Many key renewable energy technologies have indeed become much cheaper in the last few years. However, a study of national energy and climate policies in Argentina, Indonesia and Mexico shows that falling costs for renewables do not automatically result in more climate protection.

Fraunhofer ISI examines all issues related to importing green hydrogen in a new policy brief, and summarizes the tasks and problems that still have to be solved.

“Artificial Intelligence“ (AI) is already influencing our lives today and will do so even more in the future. AI-based technologies bring many advantages, but also harbor risks. In this context, a new policy paper by the research consortium “Forum Privacy“, which is coordinated by Fraunhofer ISI, makes 15 recommendations on how to not only preserve, but even promote human self-determination in spite of AI.

Road freight transport in Germany is largely based on diesel engines. This is a problem for achieving climate goals. Electrical systems like catenary trucks that are powered by electricity via an overhead line similar to trains would be more efficient and more environmentally-friendly. The infrastructure behind this, a so-called eHighway, is already technically feasible; eHighway systems make ecological and economic sense. The question is: are they socially accepted? Fraunhofer ISI discusses the key points of this technology in a policy brief.

To ensure a high quality of life, especially for future generations, it is important to preserve natural resources along the entire food value chain. A new future study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI uses four different scenarios to provide insights into how natural resources could be used in agriculture in 2035 and what role digital decision support systems can play for farmers in this context.

How will we live in 2040? How will we feed ourselves? What raw materials will we use? A special exhibition at the Senckenberg Naturmuseum in Frankfurt provides insights into tomorrow's world. The exhibition was designed as part of the BioKompass project and can now be visited digitally as well using an interactive augmented reality app. Particularly interesting during corona: The app also functions at home as a virtual tour through the future of the bioeconomy.

The global battery demand will dramatically increase in the next 10 years and beyond. This will create new jobs that require specific battery knowledge and skills. But which future skills are exactly needed? To answer this question, Fraunhofer ISI in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Battery Alliance and the Fraunhofer Academy conducts a new online survey which addresses battery experts from industry and public organisations. The survey runs until November 30th.

The reduced economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic means that the demand for electricity in Germany will decline by about six percent in 2020. If the economy recovers next year, demand will only increase by five percent according to a forecast by Fraunhofer ISI – and therefore will not return to pre-crisis levels, at least for some time. The decisive factors here are improved energy efficiency in every area on the one hand, and increasing demand in the sectors of transport, heating in buildings and IT on the other hand.

Many social and technological trends are influencing our food system – but what could the European food sector look like in 2035 and which role will play sustainability? To answer these questions, a new study within the European FOX research project presents three scenarios of alternative developments for the food sector along its entire value chain – from production and processing through packaging and logistics to sales and consumption. Each scenario has a different focus on policy, industry or research.

Hydrogen-powered trucks feature prominently in Germany's National Hydrogen Strategy and are one way to decarbonize road freight transport. Refueling infrastructure is a decisive factor for this technology to catch on. Fraunhofer ISI has calculated that a network of 140 refueling stations is enough to meet the hydrogen demand of fuel cell trucks in 2050. The costs for this amount to around nine billion euros per year.

How is heat demand spread within regions or towns in Europe? Where are the available renewable energy sources to meet this demand? Researchers from Fraunhofer ISI worked on answering these questions in an EU-wide project called Hotmaps, as part of a consortium of research institutions and cities coordinated by the TU Wien. The project team has now published a web-based Open Source toolbox that enables cities, regions and countries in Europe to determine and model their heating and cooling demand, and then develop strategies based on this.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles accounted for about 3.5% of all new passenger car registrations in Europe in the first half of 2020. Equipped with a combustion engine as well as an electric motor, the potential for reducing emissions for plug-in hybrid vehicles depends strongly on their daily driving patterns. For a joint study, the German Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) analyzed a comprehensive dataset about the real-world usage patterns for more than 100,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles in Europe, North America and China.

Despite new technologies and national and international target-setting, the global emissions of CO2 from road transport continue to increase. In a study for the journal “Nature Climate Change”, three authors from Germany and Canada show that the current and recently announced policy measures are not sufficient to meet the targets in the Paris Agreement. Their conclusion is that much stricter and more integrated measures and higher carbon prices are needed to reduce emissions.

Electricity-based technologies should replace fossil fuels in heat production and transport in the near future. However, these technologies are at an economic disadvantage compared to conventional technologies, among other reasons, due to the EEG levy and the effect this has of increasing the electricity price. This is hindering the decarbonization of these sectors. In a research project, Fraunhofer ISI analyzed how redesigning the EEG levy and electricity tax affects the competitiveness of electricity-based technologies, and what financial impacts this could have on transport, industry, households and the service sector. The final report shows that some technologies require less financial support, others more. It therefore seems to make sense to apply individual, financial support depending on the sector and technology.

Excess heat from energy-intensive industries is often suitable for use in district heating systems but is usually unutilized. A detailed overview of the potentials available in the EU is now provided by a database of the sEEnergies project. In Germany, 29 petajoules of excess heat from industrial sites could be used, which corresponds to the demand of more than half a million households. Among other things, this could replace the coal- and gas-fired power plants typically utilized for district heating. The information is available as maps and downloadable datasets.

It is not only since the corona crisis that it has become clear how important technological competitiveness and independence are for Europe. Growing geopolitical uncertainties and the threat of global trade conflicts are increasingly questioning trade relationships that have evolved over decades. The debate surrounding the introduction of the 5G standard is another example that shows a discussion is needed about how independent Germany and Europe can and must be with regard to essential technologies. In a position paper, Fraunhofer ISI presents a differentiated analytical approach to determining the criticality of technologies and the degree of technology sovereignty at national and international level. Applying this concept can be the basis for modified, situation-specific strategies to ensure future-proof technology sovereignty.

How well do electric cars perform environmentally? How will their range, economic efficiency and charging infrastructure develop in the long term? Will electric mobility mean job losses? These and many other questions to do with the battery value chain are addressed by the Fraunhofer ISI in a Policy Brief, which was presented at the Battery Forum Germany in Berlin. Main message: there is nothing to stop the widespread market diffusion of electric cars between 2020 and 2030+, although numerous challenges still have to be addressed.

Road freight traffic is responsible for more than one third of the national greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector - and is likely to increase in the future. Climate-neutral freight transport must play a key role for Germany to achieve its climate goals. A new joint Policy Brief by Fraunhofer ISI, the Oeko Institut and ifeu shows that the overhead line technology has great potential for CO2 savings and can be economically viable.

Since 2018, under the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies and other organizations have been obliged to conduct data protection impact assessment (DPIA) in certain cases. Prior to any data processing operations, the risks and dangers should be systematically analyzed, evaluated and protective measures taken. Fraunhofer ISI has published a practitioner’s manual, which helps companies and organizations to carry out data protection impact assessments using an approach originally conceptualized by the German »Privacy Forum« research consortium and then further developed for practical application in the research project »DPIA for companies and public authorities« led by Fraunhofer ISI.

As part of the eWayBW project, for which Fraunhofer ISI coordinates the accompanying scientific research, a field trial is taking place with electric powertrains for heavy-duty commercial trucks on federal trunk roads in Baden-Wuerttemberg. A recently conducted project workshop with representatives from various Alpine and other European countries showed that, although the overhead line technology only plays a minor role in these countries so far, it offers numerous opportunities such as lower pollutant emissions, improved climate footprint and economic efficiency.

Protecting the climate and the environment, ensuring food security and more sustainability in the economy and society: many of the challenges we are currently facing could benefit greatly from a future bio-based economy. However, it remains unclear what such a bioeconomy could look like and how to shape the transition towards it. Fraunhofer ISI's recently completed project “Transformation Bio”, which was funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research, addresses these issues and researches what government should do to support the transformation to a bioeconomy.

What turnover potential and productivity effects do digital business models offer industrial enterprises? And how widespread are they? A new study by Fraunhofer ISI deals with these questions as part of the representative company survey “German Manufacturing Survey”. Its conclusion: Digital business models can be a decisive competitive factor for the manufacturing sector in the future – if there is clear customer orientation and a targeted use of digital technologies.