Research

Advancing regional decarbonization through spatial, socio-technical, and systemic analysis to achieve climate neutrality

Achieving climate neutrality at the territorial level requires integrated approaches that combine spatial planning, digital innovation, and stakeholder engagement. Changes in population dynamics, forest coverage, and agricultural land use are key variables that challenge the deployment of renewable energy systems, particularly in France and Germany. At the same time, both countries must reduce greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to ensure reliable energy supply. This creates a strong need for tools that support evidence‑based decision‑making and enable long‑term monitoring of transformation efforts. 

Thus, we investigate how regions can accelerate decarbonisation through local energy systems, decentralised networks that produce, store, and distribute energy close to where it is used. Our research integrates spatial analysis and social sciences to adapt renewable and low‑carbon solutions to specific regional contexts.

Urban and Regional Data Modelling

Energy planning at urban and regional scales demands robust data infrastructure and analytical methods capable of capturing spatial and temporal complexity. We utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and AI-supported techniques for mapping and analyzing energy supply, demand, land use, and infrastructure integration, working primarily with open and publicly available data. These tools enable us to assess resource availability, infrastructural constraints, environmental conditions, and societal acceptance. 

We evaluate how geographic, environmental, and socio-economic factors shape energy solutions in specific locations. Our models support scenario analysis for decarbonization pathways, assessment of infrastructure investment needs, and evaluation of policy interventions. We develop analytical frameworks designed to be accessible and actionable for regional planners and policymakers. This includes modelling mobility transition pathways and creating digital tools that track key indicators for energy use and emissions. By connecting these diverse factors, we identify practical pathways that match regional strengths and constraints with climate targets. 

Sector coupling and system optimization 

Central to our work is understanding how electricity, heat, and renewable energy can be integrated to enhance flexibility, efficiency, and resilience. We design multi-energy configurations that can adapt to changing policy frameworks, market dynamics, and climate impacts. Our research addresses several interconnected challenges. We conduct spatial assessments of renewable energy potentials and analyze how stakeholders and governance structures influence energy transitions. We support regional energy system planning and develop digital monitoring tools for real-time optimization. Our work also investigates industrial decarbonization pathways, including electrification, green hydrogen, low-carbon fuels, and carbon capture technologies. 

Territorial and ecosystem-based approaches to sustainability

We examine how land-use practices, industrial activities, and ecosystem dynamics interact at regional and local scales to support sustainable development pathways. By combining environmental science with economic analysis, we develop and apply methods and tools that quantify impacts, assess nature-based solutions, and support strategic decision-making. 

Ecosystem-based climate solutions 

Our work connects empirical observations from experimental sites with analytical frameworks to evaluate mitigation measures. We investigate forest restoration, peatland rewetting, and grassland management, measuring their contributions in terms of carbon sequestration, biodiversity increases, and ecosystem services. These assessments use both physical indicators and monetary valuation to provide comprehensive evidence for policy and investment decisions. 

Sustainability assessment and impact evaluation 

We apply established methodologies, including Life Cycle Assessment, Biodiversity Footprint, and Planetary Boundaries frameworks, to evaluate the environmental performance of technologies, projects, organisations, and policies. Our analyses quantify how interventions affect climate, resource use, and ecological systems while also assessing regional co-benefits such as employment, well-being, and fiscal effects. 

Supporting strategic decisions 

We conduct cost-benefit analysis and externality assessments that guide sustainable investments and inform corporate strategy development. Our work examines how environmental legislation, land-use planning, and stakeholder engagement establish effective management practices. We contribute to international standards on environmental and biodiversity management. 

Understanding regulatory frameworks and market design for energy transformation

The viability of energy system transformation depends on the evolution of regulatory frameworks, market structures, and policy instruments. We examine this evolution across multiple scales – from European market integration to local energy community governance – with particular focus on Germany and France.

Market design for renewable integration 

We analyze how energy markets can be redesigned to accommodate high shares of renewable energy while maintaining reliability and affordability. Our research addresses capacity market mechanisms, offshore bidding zones, grid management strategies, and multi-energy system flexibility. Using data-driven quantitative methods, we estimate power prices and simulate decarbonized energy systems under diverse market design scenarios. This provides market intelligence that informs strategic decision-making for industry and policymakers. 

Policy effectiveness and regulatory instruments 

We evaluate how regulatory instruments – from carbon pricing to renewable energy mandates – perform in practice. Our assessments examine feasibility, efficiency, and equity implications through combined qualitative and quantitative approaches. This evidence base supports the design of more effective policy frameworks. 

Emerging market configurations and business models 

Beyond traditional market structures, we investigate bottom-up innovations including peer-to-peer energy trading and energy communities. We develop decision algorithms that help prosumers maximize economic and social benefits within these new configurations. By comparing approaches across jurisdictions and governance levels, we identify robust design principles and business models that can adapt to evolving technological and regulatory landscapes. 

Deep decarbonization requires breakthrough technologies that can scale from laboratory research to industrial application. Our work spans the entire innovation chain, from fundamental materials research to field demonstrations and techno-economic assessment. We focus on three technology domains addressing critical gaps in the energy transition: geosciences for subsurface resources and storage, bioenergy for sustainable carbon cycles, and hydrogen and other alternative fuels for hard-to-electrify sectors. 

Our approach combines experimental work with system-level analysis to ensure technologies are evaluated for both technical performance and integration into energy system architectures. Through our specialized laboratories – including a geoscience laboratory and three hydrogen laboratories for materials research and high-temperature electrolysis – we de-risk innovation by validating concepts under realistic conditions and assessing economic viability and environmental sustainability at scale. 

Geosciences: Subsurface energy and storage solutions 

The subsurface serves dual roles in energy transition – as a source of geothermal energy and as a storage medium for heat and CO₂. Our geoscience laboratory investigates these potentials through experimental and analytical research. We explore both deep and shallow geothermal systems. Our deep geothermal research examines next-generation technologies including Enhanced Geothermal Systems, Closed Loop Systems and co-exploitation concepts that combine heat extraction with raw material recovery. Shallow geothermal research focuses on improving ground-source heat pump systems and developing large-scale underground thermal energy storage solutions for long duration and seasonal energy management. In addition to geothermal applications, we analyze natural and stimulated geological hydrogen production, considering recoverable volumes, production costs, and environmental impacts. Our work on CO₂ geological storage examines cost evolution across Europe, realistic deployment potential, and long-term monitoring requirements to ensure safe and verifiable storage. 

Bioenergy and Biofuels for Decarbonization 

We investigate how biomass can be used efficiently and sustainably to replace fossil hydrocarbon extraction by providing renewable carbon and energy for fuels, heat, and industrial applications, while also contributing to carbon removal through pathways such as BECCS and long-term carbon storage in bio-based products or biochar. Taking a holistic view of feedstock sustainability, environmental impacts, and competing uses, such as food production, land use, and material applications, we assess how bioenergy interacts with other decarbonization and carbon removal strategies, and how limited biomass resources can be allocated most effectively across sectors. Our work covers the entire value chain, from feedstock availability and production pathways to logistics, conversion technologies, and end uses. Key research areas include resource assessment, synergies between biofuels and e-fuels, the role of bioenergy in energy systems with high shares of renewable electricity, and the potential of biochars as a durable carbon sink.

Hydrogen and alternative fuels: Enabling sectoral transformation 

Our three specialized hydrogen laboratories – ENERMAT (hydrogen materials, components, and e-fuels), EIFER/ICT Lab (long-term testing of high-temperature solid oxide cells), and FCE Test Lab (low-temperature hydrogen technologies) – support the technology value chain from materials development to system validation under real-world conditions.

We investigate and develop innovative solutions across the complete electrolytic hydrogen value chain. For production, we focus on low-carbon hydrogen generation through both low-temperature electrolysis (PEM, alkaline) and high-temperature technologies (solid oxide, protonic ceramic-based), optimizing each for efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Our work on storage and compression addresses the specific needs of industrial and mobility applications, from stationary systems to heavy-duty transport. We study hydrogen distribution protocols and modeling – onshore and offshore – tackling the unique challenges of hydrogen’s physical properties to ensure safe and efficient delivery. For usage, we explore applications in hard-to-electrify sectors such as heavy industry and long-distance transport, identifying where hydrogen can complement or outperform battery-based solutions. Our research tackles critical technological bottlenecks that currently limit deployment: improving system efficiency and reducing electricity consumption, enhancing durability and resilience of electrolysis stacks, developing smart control systems and diagnostic tools, ensuring hydrogen quality through advanced sensor technologies, and supporting scale-up from laboratory to gigawatt-scale infrastructure. In addition, we investigate alternative fuels including biofuels, e-fuels, and e-biofuels for aviation, maritime transport, and chemical industries. We analyze production pathways, evaluate deployment strategies, and examine how these fuels interact with other decarbonization options to maximize system benefits while ensuring sustainability.