News
“Berlin is strong where trust matters”
A conversation with Philipp Günther about the new AI competence centre ai.berlin hub:
Philipp Günther is an innovation manager at Berlin Partner for Business and Technology. What is the strategic mission of the new ai.berlin hub—and what sets it apart from other AI initiatives? The idea emerged from…
Federal Ministry funds new research group at HU on resilient urban landscapes
Dr Thilo Wellmann develops monitoring tools for green municipal infrastructure:
Three new research groups for young scientists are working at Humboldt University in Berlin (HU), including Dr Thilo Wellmann's group at the Institute of Geography in Adlershof, which is funded by the Federal Ministry…
Open data infrastructure for municipal heat planning
New research project launched by Reiner Lemoine Institute and University of Osnabrück:
Launch of the project for open data infrastructure for municipal heat planning results: The partners from the Reiner Lemoine Institute and the University of Osnabrück met in Berlin to kick off the project. What they…
BAM researchers achieve significant performance improvement in sodium-ion batteries
New core-shell design for anodes increases efficiency and storage capacity:
Sodium-ion batteries are considered a promising, sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, high storage losses during the first charging cycle have slowed down their development so far. Researchers at…
A record year for the HZB living lab for building-integrated solar facades
The solar modules on the facade of the Adlershof research building produced almost 32 MWh of electricity in 2025:
In 2025, the solar facade of the BIPV living laboratory (BIPV – Building integrated photovoltaics) in Berlin-Adlershof generated more electricity than in any of the previous four years of operation. With about 32…
Compact electron accelerator for treating PFAS-contaminated water
New approach to breaking down PFAS molecules into harmless components at contamination hotspots using radiolysis:
So-called forever chemicals or PFAS compounds are a growing environmental problem. An innovative approach to treating PFAS-contaminated water and soil now comes from accelerator physics: high-energy electrons can…
Passive air conditioning
Nanolope is developing a panel-shaped thermal energy storage system that can be mounted on walls or ceilings:
The specialised material used in the thermal energy storage system developed by Nanolope regulates temperature as it melts and solidifies, it is designed to noticeably reduce heating costs. The International Space…
A proving ground for pioneers
Researchers and developers at the Adlershof Technology Park are still making history in the aviation and aerospace sector:
The aviation pioneer Melli Beese died a century ago. In the very place that she once helped shape, researchers and developers are still making history in the aviation and aerospace sector—with excellent technologies…
PFAS detection in 15 minutes
BAM develops sensor system for rapid on-site analysis:
PFAS are “forever chemicals” that hardly degrade in the environment. They enter soil and water, accumulate in plants, animals, and humans, and can be harmful to health. The problem: Until now, detecting them has been…
DLR is getting a new large-scale research facility for the mobility transition
Multisensory experience mozu is under construction:
Mobility plays a significant role in our daily lives and in society. Conventional visualisation is often not sufficient to understand the complex interactions of urban mobility. With mozu, the German Aerospace Center…
Energy-efficient renovation of your own home
Research project shows need for information and helps with online guide:
It is difficult for homeowners to get an overview of the topic of energy-efficient building renovation. There is a lack of information, especially with regard to suitable heating technologies, subsidy conditions and…
Flexibility could reduce electricity generation from gas-fired power plants by up to 45 percent by 2045
Analysis by BUND and Gaswende with calculations by RLI shows advantages of flexibility in the energy system:
The German government is currently pushing ahead with the construction of new climate-damaging gas-fired power plants as part of its power plant strategy. A new analysis by the organizations Bund für Umwelt und…
Bright prospects for tin perovskite solar cells
Tin-based perovskites promise enormous potential for the production of environmentally friendly, stable solar cells:
Perovskite solar cells are widely regarded as the next generation photovoltaic technology. However, they are not yet stable enough in the long term for widespread commercial use. One reason for this is migrating ions,…
Joint Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab goes live
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy establish joint centre for research and education:
The Academic Council of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy approved the establishment of KECLab - the Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab. KECLab is designed to become a modern, internationally connected energy…
Peat as a sustainable precursor for fuel cell catalyst materials
Research at BESSY II for more economical and sustainable energy production:
Iron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts have the potential to replace the more expensive platinum catalysts currently used in fuel cells. This is shown by a study conducted by researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin…
How can a successful transformation of the heat supply be achieved?
RLI is part of a research project on climate-neutral development of the heating and electricity sector in Birkenwerder and Hohen Neuendorf:
How can the Brandenburg municipalities of Birkenwerder and Hohen Neuendorf supply themselves with climate-neutral heat using renewable energies? What impact will this have on the power grid? What measures are…
Helmholtz Investigator Group on magnons
Dr Hebatalla Elnaggar wants to create the foundations for a new extremely efficient information technology:
Dr Hebatalla Elnaggar is setting up a new Helmholtz Investigator Group at HZB. At BESSY II, the materials scientist will investigate so-called magnons in magnetic perovskite thin films. The aim is to lay the…
The future of corals – what X-rays can tell us
Researchers want to find out how marine organisms respond to changes in their environment:
This summer, it was all over the media. Driven by the climate crisis, the oceans have now also passed a critical point, the absorption of CO2 is making the oceans increasingly acidic. The shells of certain sea snails…
Successful tests on underground heat storage in Berlin-Adlershof
Preliminary investigations by the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences for Berlin's largest heat storage facility have been completed:
Energy storage is an essential component of a secure, resilient and renewable energy supply. In order to balance supply and demand in the field of renewable heat supply, large heat storage facilities are needed, for…
Networked European innovation ecosystem: Campus Squared initiative launched
Cooperation agreement between Adlershof Technology Park and European science locations:
On 12 November, WISTA Management GmbH, the operating company of Adlershof Technology Park, and representatives of other European science locations signed a cooperation agreement officially launching “Campus Squared”—a…