National Energy Transitions Team

Energy National Transition



The National Energy Transitions Team (NETT) explores national transition pathways towards net-zero green-house-gas emissions. We analyze country-specific technology and policy options in the context of international climate targets. With our work, we generate scientific knowledge that enables policy makers to facilitate the energy transition.

Key topics are renewable electricity, electrification, sector coupling, hydrogen and synthetic fuels (e-fuels) for the transformation of the transport, buildings and industry sectors. Focus countries and regions are Germany, the European Union, China, India and Australia.

The team has a background in physics, economics, engineering, and political science and conducts research and policy advice in the field of climate change mitigation and energy system transformation with focus on the following topics:

  • renewable energy, electrification, sector coupling, hydrogen and e-fuels
  • wind and solar power system integration and representation in scenario models
  • national and global scenario modeling, e.g., EU and German transition pathways and policy targets
  • climate policies to achieve policy targets and overcome barriers, eg carbon pricing, emission standards, feed-in tariffs, carbon contracts for difference, and others
  • sectoral studies: transport, industry and buildings
Core methods are scenario modeling with the REMIND-EU model, modeling of the power sector and sector coupling with the LIMES-EU and DIETER models, life-cycle assessment, as well as bottom-up technology assessments.

2021

  • Pietzcker, R. C., Osorio, S., Rodrigues, R. (2021): Tightening EU ETS targets in line with the European Green Deal: Impacts on the decarbonization of the EU power sector. Applied Energy; 293, 116914, doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116914.

  • Ueckerdt, F., Bauer, C., Dirnaichner, A., Everall, J., Sacchi, R., Luderer, G. (2021): Potential and risks of hydrogen-based e-fuels in climate change mitigation. Nature Climate Change, doi: 10.1038/s41558-021-01032-7.

  • Baumstark, L., Bauer, N., Benke, F., Bertram, C., Bi, S., Gong, C, Dietrich, J. P., Dirnaichner, A., Giannousakis A., Hilaire, J., Klein, D., Koch, J., Leimbach, M., Levesque, A., Madeddu, S., Malik, A., Merfort, A., Merfort, L., Odenweller, A., Pehl, M., Pietzcker, R. C., Piontek, F., Rauner, S., Rodrigues, R., Rottoli, M., Schreyer, F., Schultes, A., Soergel, B., Soergel, D., Strefler, J., Ueckerdt, F., Kriegler, E., Luderer, G. (2021): REMIND2.1: Transformation and innovation dynamics of the energy-economic system within climate and sustainability limits. Geoscientific Model Development, 85, doi: 10.5194/gmd-2021-85.

2020

  • Schreyer, F., Luderer, G., Rodrigues, R., Pietzcker, R. C., Baumstark, L., Sugiyama, M., Brecha, R. J., Ueckerdt, F. (2020): Common but differentiated leadership: Strategies and challenges for carbon neutrality by 2050 across industrialized economies. Environmental Research Letters, 15(11), 114016, doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/abb852.

  • Madeddu, S., Ueckerdt, F., Pehl, M., Peterseim, J., Lord, M., Kumar, K. A., Krueger, C., Luderer, G. (2020): The CO2 reduction potential for the European industry via direct electrification of heat supply (power-to-heat). Environmental Research Letters, 15, doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/abbd02.

  • Ershad, M. A., Pietzcker, R. C., Ueckerdt, F., Luderer, G. (2020): Managing power demand from air conditioning benefits solar PV in India scenarios for 2040, Energies 13 (9), 222, doi: 10.3390/en13092223.

2019



Pietzcker, R.C., Osorio, S., Rodrigues, R. (2021): Tightening EU ETS targets in line with the European Green Deal: Impacts on the decarbonization of the EU power sector. Applied Energy 293, 116914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116914
 

New publication in Nature Climate Change on the role of hydrogen-based e-fuels.
This figure categorizes end-use sectors and suggests a "merit order" of where to prioritize hydrogen demand.

Ueckerdt, F., Bauer, C., Dirnaichner, A., Everall, J., Sacchi, R., Luderer, G. (2021, forthcoming): Potential and risks of hydrogen-based e-fuels in climate change mitigation. link to paper
Nature Climate Change. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01032-7

Covered in: Spiegel online, The Guardian, Tagesspiegel, Handelsblatt

Team

Robert Pietzcker Dr. Robert Pietzcker
Co-Lead and Senior Scientist
Falko Ueckerdt Dr. Falko Ueckerdt
Co-Lead and Senior Scientist
Default pic Clara Bachorz
Doctoral Researcher
Jakob Duerrwaechter.png


Jakob Dürrwächter
Postdoctoral Researcher

Robin Hasse


Robin Hasse
Doctoral Researcher

Johanna Hoppe.png Johanna Hoppe
Doctoral Researcher
Jarusch Muessel.png


Jarusch Müßel
Doctoral Researcher

Adrian Odenweller Adrian Odenweller
Doctoral Researcher
Renato Rodrigues


Dr. Renato Rodrigues
Postdoctoral Researcher

Default pic Dr. Ricarda Rosemann
Postdoctoral Researcher
Felix Schreyer


Felix Schreyer
Doctoral Researcher

Joanna Sitarz.png Joanna Sitarz
Doctoral Researcher
Philipp Verpoort


Dr. Philipp Verpoort
Postdoctoral Researcher



Associate members:

Chris Chen Gong Dr. Chris Chen Gong
Postdoctoral Researcher
Pascal Weigmann.png Pascal Weigmann
Scientist

Hiwis:

Default pic Caroline Cronjäger Default pic Leo Heidweiler
Default pic Louisa Müller Default pic Hagen Tockhorn