R&D Networks

A great strength of the DBFZ is the networking of the research landscape in order to be able to solve the complex challenges of the energy and raw material turnaround. The DBFZ is a member of the following important research alliances:


The European Energy Research Alliance (EERA AISBL) is a non-profit Association that contributes to the coordination of a massive public research effort to develop more efficient and cheaper low carbon energy technologies. EERA is the public research pillar of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan). EERA contributes through its Joint Programmes to make sure that the billions of euros invested in low carbon technologies each year are spent on the best possible solutions available. One of those 17 Joint Programmes is the EERA Bioenergy Joint Programme that was established in 2011. In a Joint Programme, a research organisation joins institutions in other European countries to work on shared priority setting and research projects. The aim of the EERA Joint Programmes is to gradually evolve into fully operational virtual research institutes.

Further Informations: www.eera-bioenergy.eu/eera-bioenergy/

The German Renewable Energy Research Association (FVEE) is a nationwide cooperation of research institutes. Its members research and develop technologies for renewable energies, energy efficiency, energy storage and the optimised technical and socio-economic interaction of all system components. The aim is to transform energy supply into a sustainable energy system. The DBFZ has been an official member of the FVEE since January 2015.

Further information:  www.fvee.de/en

In the BioEconomy Cluster, partners from industry and research are working on the fundamentals of the material and energetic use of non-food biomass. As a closely networked competence region for the bioeconomy, relevant sectors such as the wood and forestry industry, the chemical industry, the plastics industry and plant construction are linked. The DBFZ has been a member of the BioEconomy cluster since 2012.

Further information: http://www.bioeconomy.de/

IEA Bioenergy operates within the IEA energy technology and R&D collaboration programme. This programme facilitates co-operation among IEA Member and non-Member countries to develop new and improved energy technologies and introduce them into the market. Activities are set up under Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCPs) which provide the legal mechanisms for establishing the commitments of the Contracting Parties and the management structure to guide the activity. Contracting Parties can be government organisations or private entities designated by their governments. Non-IEA Member countries, or their designated entities, can become Contracting Parties.

Further informations: www.ieabioenergy.com / www.dbfz.de/iea-bioenergy

In June 2008, the BMWi-funded "Energetic Biomass Use" programme was launched, in which more than 650 partners have been researching in over 140 projects since then. The focus is on R&D projects with demonstration and pilot character for the practical further development of competitive technologies, especially in the areas of combustion, gasification and fermentation of biomass. Important aspects are the flexibilisation of electricity and heat generation from biomass, system integration and sector coupling. In addition, support will be given in particular to bioenergy plants and concepts that contribute to the successful interaction of renewable energies and a climate-friendly energy market. In order to improve the sustainable use of energy in the (coupled) heat and electricity sector as well as in the transport sector, biomass residual material and waste potentials in particular are to be tapped. The recipients of funding are traditional research institutions, but above all small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to introduce certain technologies onto the market. As a bioenergy research network, the programme has been part of the BMWK's Energy Research Networks since 2016 and has been funded under the 7th Energy Research Programme since 2018. The programme support, located at the DBFZ, is responsible for scientific support and public relations work for the BMWK's Bioenergy funding area. The project management organisation Jülich (PtJ) has been commissioned with the technical and administrative coordination.

Further information: www.energetische-biomassenutzung.de

The UFZ is one of the world's leading research centres in the field of environmental research and enjoys high social recognition. It shows ways for a sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of mankind and the environment. As a reliable partner, the UFZ supports politics, business and civil society in better understanding the consequences of human actions for the environment and in developing options for social decision-making processes. To this end, the UFZ takes up social challenges and creates knowledge and technologies to help identify problems in the area of conflict between the environment and society at an early stage and develop precautionary solutions

Further Information: www.ufz.de

The careful handling and conservation of our natural resources is becoming increasingly important. Against the background of rising global energy costs and waste volumes, the research group of the Chair of Waste and Material Flow Management (ASW) is primarily concerned with the optimisation of the material and energetic utilisation of bio- and secondary raw materials. With the realisation of energy-efficient material cycles along the entire value chain, a significant contribution is made to the conservation of resources - and thus to environmental protection. Applied research and development focuses on the areas of "waste management and technology", "material and energy recovery from biomass" and "international waste management and bioenergy research". The professorship is held by Prof. Dr. Michael Nelles (Scientific Managing Director of the DBFZ).

Further information: https://www.uni-rostock.de/

The focus of the considerations of the Chair of Bioenergy Systems at the University of Leipzig is on concepts, technologies and management systems for the control of biogenic material and energy systems. The provision of bioenergy is in a field of tension of a highly developed sustainability model for a future energy supply, a wide range of technical options and various risks for material displacements and losses. Contradictory goals associated with the use of biomass, as well as different efficiency aspects (e.g. areas, climate gas savings, energy supply, value creation, etc.) require integrated management systems that can be implemented on different scales - from operational to global. Against this background, the general objective of the sustainable management of biogenic material and energy flows is their classification (system understanding) and efficient control, taking into account the technical, economic, ecological and social aspects of the relevant process chains (system design). Accordingly, the focus of the research lies in the connection of fragmentary information along the process chains to the development of integrated management systems for the provision of bioenergy. Methods of potential analysis, material and energy flow analysis, scenario development and material flow evaluation are applied.

Further information: www.uni-leipzig.de

ENERGY SAXONY is a business-oriented energy technology network that aims to promote the development and marketing of future cutting-edge technologies in the fields of ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, ELECTROMOBILITY, DIGITALIZATION. The association has set itself the task of transforming the innovation potential of Saxon companies and research institutions into joint projects and applications for the benefit of society and thus strengthening the Free State of Saxony as a pioneering, competitive energy and business location.

Further information: www.energy-saxony.net

The association was founded on the initiative of the regional players in January 2011 from the Energy & Environmental Technology Cluster of the City of Leipzig, which has been operating successfully for several years, and has since taken over cluster management in close cooperation with the Office for Economic Development of the City of Leipzig. NEU combines the individual competence of more than 70 members. Large companies, SMEs, research and educational institutions, public administration, associations and committed individuals bundle know-how and resources in the network in order to develop innovation potentials and new markets through joint future-oriented projects and to increase regional added value. Special attention is paid to joint project development, because only innovative cooperation projects can further increase the supra-regional competitiveness of the Leipzig region, one of the most dynamic regions in Germany.

Further information: https://neu.energiemetropole-leipzig.de/de/