What does sustainability mean in the field of research and transfer?

In its research, TU Ilmenau focuses on the sustainability goals of “affordable and clean energy,” “industry, innovation, and infrastructure,” and “sustainable consumption and production,” thereby strengthening its core competencies. In a wide range of projects, researchers are developing cross-disciplinary and cross-border processes for the production of green hydrogen, making energy systems fit for the requirements of the energy transition, and developing green electronics that are climate-neutral along the entire value chain. They pursue resource-saving approaches in industrial production and production management, establish new methods in the world of work, and are already helping to shape the sustainable world of tomorrow. However, our research on sustainability issues goes far beyond this: all faculties have research projects on almost all sustainability goals.

To ensure that our research results on sustainability are effective, it is important for us to share the knowledge we have gained and engage in direct exchange with companies and society. There are many new and long-established dialogue platforms for this purpose, such as the TU Ilmenau Citizens' Campus and the Ilmenau Science Night. To ensure that the ideas of students and researchers directly translate into sustainable businesses, the Ilmkubator start-up service promotes innovative spin-offs from the university.

What are we working on? Selected research projects related to sustainability

Christoph Gorke

ISGE – Ilmenau School of Green Electronics

In twelve doctoral projects and one postdoctoral project, young scientists at the Ilmenau School of Green Electronics (ISGE) are working in interdisciplinary teams on green microelectronics. They are conducting holistic research on the topic, ranging from smart materials and energy-efficient data processing to durable electrical products. The scientific goal of this interdisciplinary training and research structure is to develop information technology (IT) for the future that is sustainable and climate-neutral not only in operation, but along the entire value chain and throughout the entire material cycle, i.e., from production and operation to repair and recycling.

 

ZO.RRO 2 for Glass Industry – Digitale Werkzeuge für die Dekarbonisierung der Industrie

Wie kann die Industrie von morgen gleichzeitig nachhaltig, wirtschaftlich und zukunftssicher aufgestellt sein? Das Projekt ZO.RRO 2 for Glass Industry stellt sich dieser
Herausforderung und entwickelt digitale Werkzeuge sowie wegweisende Lösungen für eine hochverfügbare, umweltfreundliche und wirtschaftliche Elektroenergieversorgung.
Durch die enge Zusammenarbeit mit der Thüringer Glasindustrie und der metallverarbeitenden Industrie könnenpraxisnahe Lösungen in Pilotprojekten entwickelt werden,
die auf weitere Unternehmen und Branchen übertragbar sind. Industrie kann klimaneutral!

 
Digitale Werkzeuge für die Dekarbonisierung der Industrie
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CliMAFlux – Circular design and manufacturing techniques for highly efficient next-generation integrated electric motors

Electric motors are a key element in the transition to zero-emission mobility. To accelerate this transformation, a European research team is investigating highly efficient next-generation electric motors as part of the CliMAFlux project. They are rethinking axial flux motors – both in terms of their design and the way they are manufactured. Through innovative designs and manufacturing processes and the use of novel materials, the motors are to become more powerful, more cost-effective, and more recyclable, while using up to 60 percent less rare earth metals.

 

Resource-efficient energy distribution network for Germany

The distribution of electrical energy is one of the challenges of the energy transition. Researchers from six departments at the Technical University of Ilmenau are developing a resource-efficient energy distribution network for Germany based on direct current technology. It is specifically tailored to the increasing use of renewable energy generated in a large number of decentralized plants and offers significantly higher operational reliability than the current grid. The six-year VERNEDCT research project started in July 2023 and is funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation as part of its “Breakthroughs – Energy Systems of the Future” program.

TU Ilmenau/Michael Reichel
Airbus

Environmentally friendly air transport

This major European project is preparing air transport for a sustainable and climate-neutral future. Thirty-seven partners from eleven countries are developing HECATE (“Hybrid ElectriC regional Aircraft distribution Technologies”)  new technologies for the hybrid aircraft of the future, i.e., aircraft with combustion engines and electric motors. The task of the Electrical Equipment and Systems department at the TU Ilmenau is to develop novel switching devices for the innovative distribution of electrical energy in hybrid aircraft.

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Sustainable materials for renewable energy generation

Reducing and replacing critical elements in highly efficient optoelectronic energy materials through increased use of aluminum and reduction of atomic lattice constants: An interdisciplinary team from the Technical University of Ilmenau, together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, is conducting research on this topic, accompanied by an industrial advisory board. To ensure that renewable energy is provided in a resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, and economical manner, the SustEnMat project (“Substitution and recycling strategies for critical elements in highly efficient optoelectronic energy materials”) is also investigating the economic and ecological implications of researching sustainable materials for recycling strategies in renewable energy production.

TU Ilmenau/Michael Reichel
Mitmachstation in AusstellungPower2change/Caroline Seidel

Power2Change

The project Science Communication Energy Transition is a unique exhibition project. Project partners from science, museums, and communication have joined forces to present topics related to the energy transition in the interactive exhibition “Power2Change: Mission Energy Transition”: today's energy research for tomorrow's energy world. The exhibition is being organized by a team from the Department of Empirical Media Research and Political Communication (EMPK) at the Technical University of Ilmenau with four sub-projects in the field of communication science.

What has already been achieved?

Nachhaltiges Ladekonzept für E-Fahrzeuge

As part of the MIGRO project, a microgrid research and experimentation platform for future grids, the TU Ilmenau offers university members slow EV charging stations above the central lecture hall building, which are powered by clean energy from photovoltaic (PV) panels. The innovative system makes it possible to charge electric vehicles particularly cheaply with locally generated solar energy. The island grid has no connection to the public power grid, is therefore completely self-sufficient, and can be transferred to any location, such as parking lots or areas with weak grids. 

Handan Sahin