Energy

As more and more of society is electrified, demand is rising fast, just as generation becomes more weather-dependent and more dispersed. That places new demands on grids, storage, flexibility and market design, which the present system was never built to meet. Research is needed to understand how technology, economics and human behaviour interact, so that electricity remains reliable, affordable and fairly shared. Ultimately, access to clean electricity determines the prosperity, competitiveness and climate impact a society can have.

Research into sustainable vehicle technologies is about making vehicles on the road, at sea and in the air far more energy-efficient and free of fossil fuels. This calls for new knowledge of electric powertrains, batteries, fuel cells, renewable fuels and more efficient combustion, since different modes of transport need different solutions. Just as important is seeing the vehicle as part of a larger system, in which charging, fuel production, the electricity grid and the availability of resources must all work together. The goal is transport that meets the climate targets without society losing the mobility on which prosperity and trade depend.

Research into energy in the building sector is about reducing the need for heating, cooling and electricity without compromising indoor climate, health or comfort. That requires new knowledge of materials, building envelopes, building services and controls, and not least of how the existing stock can be renovated in a resource-efficient way. At the same time, buildings are becoming an active part of the energy system, where solar panels, storage and flexible use can ease the load on electricity grids and district heating. Because what is built today will stand for generations, the choices made now will determine how much energy society needs far into the future.

In a circular economy, fossil feedstocks are replaced by renewable ones, and biomass from forestry, agriculture and waste becomes a key resource for energy, fuels and materials alike. Because biomass is in limited supply, research is needed into how it can be used where it does the most good, and how residual streams, waste heat and carbon dioxide can be put to use rather than lost.
This demands new knowledge of conversion processes such as combustion, gasification and biorefining, so that they become more efficient and less harmful to health and the environment. The goal is an energy system in which resources circulate rather than being used up, and in which industry can make the transition without losing its competitive edge.

Every choice of pathway, such as which energy sources to expand, where and how quickly, ties up investment and infrastructure for decades to come. Research is needed to analyse how the various options affect costs, the climate, resources and security of supply before decisions are taken. It covers both the technical design of energy systems and the factors that determine whether change actually happens: how new technology is developed and spreads, and how households and businesses use energy. In this way, politicians, companies and public authorities gain an evidence base for decisions that have to be made under great uncertainty.