Job
Deputy scient. Managing Director DBFZ / Head of Bioenergy Systems Department
Field of work
Professor Daniela Thraen studied Technical Environmental Protection at the University of Berlin and received her doctorate at the Bauhaus University Weimar. As a scientist, she is researching how biomass can be produced and used in the most sustainable way possible. Since 2002, she has been head of the "Bioenergy Systems" department and since 2008 deputy scientific director at the DBFZ, the German Institute for Biomass Research in Leipzig. She has headed the Department of Bioenergy at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig since 2011 and has held the chair of Bioenergy Systems at the University of Leipzig since then. She contributes her expertise on the sustainable use and production of biomass to numerous committees and is Co-Chairwoman of the German Bioeconomy Council. Professor Thraen leads research projects in the field of bioenergy, bioeconomics and the spatial impact of renewable energies and has developed the "Smart Bioenergy" approach, considering technologies and concepts needed for a more flexible bioenergy provision in future energy systems.
Keywords
Biomass, Bioenergy, Bioeconomy, System analysis, Technology assessment, bioenergy paths and scenarios, policy advice
My publications
Curriculum vitae
| Since 2021 | Spokesperson of the UFZ integrated platform Sustainability Transformation, previously TOPIC spokesperson in the research program Technology, Innovation and Society (2015 - 2020) |
| Since 2011 | Head of the Department „Bioenergy“ at the Helmholtz Centre of Environmental Research (UFZ) |
| Since 2011 | Professorship at the University of Leipzig (Chair of Bioenergy Systems at the Institute for Infrastructure and Resource Management of the Faculty of Economic Science) |
| Since 2008 | Head of the Department "Bioenergy Systems" and Deputy Scientific Managing Director at the DBFZ, the German institute for biomass research |
| 2002 - 2008 | Head of the Department "Bioenergy Systems" at the Institute for Energy and Environment |
| 2001 - 2002 | Project Manager Biomass/ Renewable Energies at the University of Stuttgart |
| 1996 - 2000 | Project Manager Waste Management at the University of Potsdam |
| 1998 - 2001 | Bauhaus University Weimar / PhD-Thesis "Material Flow Account in rural areas – Analysis, determination of objectives and evaluation of the timber balance in a sustainable regional development" |
| 1989 - 1995 | Technical University of Berlin: Degreed Engineer for Environmental Engineering |
Committee work
| 2020 | New appointment to the Bioeconomy Council of the Federal Government, elected to Co-Chairwoman in Jan 2021 |
| Since 2019 | Member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Climate Protection and Climate Impact Adaptation at the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation in the Free State of Thuringia |
| Since 2019 | Co-Task lead and national team leader Germany of the IEA Bioenergy Task 44 - "Flexible bioenergy and systems integration" |
| Since 2019 | Member of Sub-programme 1: Sustainable Production of Biomass and of Sub-programme 5: Sustainability/ Techno-economic Analysis/ Public Acceptance of EERA Bioenergy |
| Since 2018 | Member of the Programme Committee and the Scientific Advisory Board, scientific patronage as DBFZ representative of the Doctoral Colloquium Bioenergy |
| Since 2017 | Co-Editor in Chief of the journal "Sustainability and Society" of Springer Verlag |
| 2016 - 2020 | Member of the European Bioeconomy Stakeholders’ Panel |
| Since 2016 | Member of the Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN) |
| Since 2016 | UFZ representative on the Directorate in the Research Association for Renewable Energies (FVEE) |
| 2014 - 2020 | Member of the research association "Think Tank Helmholtz Association UFZ |
| 2012 - 2021 | Member of the expert committee of the Saxony Energy Advisory Council |
| 2012 - 2019 | Member of the Bioeconomy Council of the Federal Republic of Germany – independent Advisory Committee for the federal Government of Germany |
| 2010 - 2018 | Member of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Agreement – Task 40 - "Sustainable International Bioenergy Trade" |
| Since 2015 | Convenor of the Working Group 1 of the International Organization for Standardization ISO/TC 238 "Solid Biofuels" |
| Since 2011 | Member of the Advisory Board of the Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany e.V. (aireg) |
| Since 2010 | Head of the BMWi Bioenergy Research Network |
| Since 2007 | Member of Working Group 1 "Biomass availability" of the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP) Bioenergy |
| Since 2002 | Expert "Terminology", Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V. (DIN): NA 062-05-82 AA Working Committee on Biogenic Solid Fuels |