Ulm University is on board!|9 state universities present 99 projects for a post-fossil fuel future

21. July 2026

Ulm University is on board!
9 state universities present 99 projects for a post-fossil fuel future

Ulm University 07/22/2026 Ulm University

Paving the way for tomorrow’s solutions: driven by this ambition, scientists from all nine state universities are working towards a future in which fossil raw materials and energy sources are increasingly replaced by sustainable alternatives. At today’s state press conference in Stuttgart, the nine state universities presented a list of 99 research projects aimed at a post-fossil future. The publication received approval and support from Baden-Württemberg’s Minister for Science, Petra Olschowski, and from the Chief Executive of the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), Susanne Herre, both of whom attended the press conference.

A list of the University of Ulm’s projects can be found at the end of the text

Storing solar energy in molecules, replacing oil with renewable raw materials, or making industrial processes and agriculture more energy-efficient – these are just some of the solutions currently being developed at universities in Baden-Württemberg. As a snapshot of their research, the nine state universities are today presenting a total of 99 projects that are paving the way for a post-fossil-fuel future.

“With their projects, the universities in the state are demonstrating the contribution science makes to shaping the future of our society,” says Professor Karla Pollmann, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tübingen and chairwoman of the Baden-Württemberg State Rectors’ Conference. “The current crises surrounding energy and raw materials bring home to us just how dependent our economy and our everyday lives still are on fossil resources. At the same time, Earth Overshoot Day highlights every year that we are consuming more resources than our planet can sustainably provide. It is precisely at times like these that new ideas and scientific insights are needed. Through their research, the Universities are taking responsibility and developing solutions to the challenges of our time,” says Professor Pollmann.

Through the 99 selected projects, the nine state universities aim to provide an exemplary insight into their research for a post-fossil future. The projects demonstrate how scientific findings enable new technologies and concepts for the sustainable use of energy and resources. They help to reduce dependence on fossil raw materials and energy sources and open up new prospects for Baden-Württemberg as a centre for research and innovation. At the same time, they can help to slow down climate change and preserve a planet that is as liveable as possible for future generations.

Research at Ulm University covers a broad spectrum
“Ulm University’s projects demonstrate the breadth of our research into a post-fossil fuel future: from green energy and high-performance storage systems, through climate-friendly Chemistry, to the use of CO₂ as a raw material,” says Professor Michael Weber, President of Ulm University. “With our scientific findings, we aim to contribute to solutions that protect the climate and also drive society forward economically.”

Ulm University is participating in the initiative with projects on novel batteries beyond lithium, green hydrogen modelled on nature, and more energy-efficient industrial processes, such as a particularly energy-efficient distillation plant. Other projects focus on controlling biogas production, using microorganisms for plastics recycling and the production of key basic chemicals, as well as processes that capture CO₂ directly from the air – for example, via existing cooling towers – and the conversion of CO₂ and methane into industrial alcohols. In addition, there is research into the production of ammonia using green hydrogen, into materials for nuclear fusion – a potential future energy source involving the fusion of atomic nuclei – and an international network of PhD students aimed at bringing photocatalytic chemical processes into industrial application.

Minister: “We must overcome our dependence on fossil fuels”
“‘99 Projects for a Post-Fossil Future’ – with this initiative, our universities are once again demonstrating their innovative strength and their social relevance. I am very grateful to them for this,” comments Petra Olschowski, Minister for Science in Baden-Württemberg. “We must overcome our dependence on fossil fuels. This protects the climate and reinforces our position as a business hub. Baden-Württemberg has everything it needs to achieve this: excellent research, strong universities, innovative companies and a dynamic SME sector. The 99 research projects from the nine state universities prove that our scientific community is driving change forward with new ideas,” said the Minister. “Those who lead the way in GreenTech reinforce technological sovereignty and secure our leading position in Europe as the number one country for innovation. Investment in key green technologies safeguards prosperity, jobs and technological independence. Baden-Württemberg is not merely following this path; it is leading the way. We are achieving this through targeted technology transfer and an active structural policy that begins with world-class research at our universities.”

Chamber of Industry and Commerce representative: “Business stands by climate targets and sustainable transformation”
“The economy stands by the climate targets and the transition to sustainable energy sources and raw materials. This is not only an obligation towards future generations, but also a major economic opportunity. With its strong research landscape, innovative SMEs and technology companies, Baden-Württemberg can make its mark globally with GreenTech solutions,” says Dr Susanne Herre, Chief Executive of the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). “It is crucial that new findings make their way from research into practical application. The 99 projects presented today impressively demonstrate the innovative potential of our Universities and can provide important impetus for technology transfer to businesses,” says Herre.

Wide range covers all challenges
In detail, the research projects span a broad spectrum, from new materials and raw materials through technologies for a sustainable energy supply to political and societal issues surrounding the transition. All universities are contributing their respective strengths: comprehensive universities such as Freiburg, Heidelberg, Konstanz and Tübingen are drawing on the full breadth of their academic disciplines. Universities such as Stuttgart, Ulm University and KIT excel, amongst other things, through their particular expertise in technology and Engineering. Specialised universities such as Hohenheim and Mannheim stand out thanks to their respective specialist profiles.

Ulm projects

A curated selection of research projects at Ulm University.

In search of batteries for the post-lithium era

The aim of the POLiS cluster of excellence is to develop environmentally friendly, safe and high-performance storage materials that, as far as possible, do not rely on scarce and problematic raw materials such as lithium and cobalt. Instead, battery electrodes based on sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium are to be developed and evaluated. These batteries are designed to store electricity from wind and solar energy safely, efficiently and sustainably. In doing so, they make an important contribution to the energy transition and enable environmentally friendly electromobility.

POLiS – Post-Lithium Storage
Cluster of excellence at KIT, Ulm University and Justus Liebig University Giessen

Prof. Birgit Esser, Ulm University, Institute of Organic Chemistry II and Advanced Materials, email: birgit.esser(at)uni-ulm.de
Prof. Helmut Ehrenberg (KIT/IAM-ESS); Dr Christian Punckt (POLiS Secretariat and IAM-ESS)

^{Funded by: the Federal and State}
^{Excellence Strategy}

Green hydrogen modelled on nature

Green hydrogen is one of the key pillars of the energy transition. The Transregio Collaborative Research Centre 234 ‘CataLight’ is investigating photocatalytic processes that make it possible to use energy from sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen – following the natural model of photosynthesis. To this end, specialised photocatalytic materials are being developed, studied in terms of their mechanisms and optimised; these materials absorb solar energy, store it in chemical form and can later release it ‘at the touch of a button’.

SFB/TRR 234 CataLight
“Light-driven Molecular Catalysts in Hierarchically Structured Materials”

Prof. Dr Sven Rau, Ulm University, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry I, email: sven.rau(at)uni-ulm.de, telephone: 0731/5023900

^{Participating partners: Friedrich Schiller University Jena}
^{Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG)}

Superlative distillation plant halves energy and investment costs

Distillation is a core process in the chemical industry, accounting for around ten per cent of global energy consumption. Chemical engineers at the University of Ulm have commissioned a high-performance and, above all, sustainable distillation plant. The globally unique multiple-partition column handles as many chemical separation processes as three conventional industrial distillation plants. Yet the Ulm column consumes only half as much energy; the capital and operating costs are significantly lower.

Multiple Partition Column

Prof. Thomas Grützner, Ulm University, Institute of Chemical Engineering, email: thomas.gruetzner(at)uni-ulm.de

^{Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG), German Federal Environmental Foundation}

Light to make the chemical industry greener

The production of a wide range of chemical substances can be made more sustainable and cleaner through the use of light. In the EU project PROSPER, an international network of PhD students, involving both academia and industry, is investigating how photocatalytic processes can be scaled up for large-scale industrial application. PROSPER provides training for early-career researchers in the knowledge-based design of industrial photoreactors – from radiation field characterisation and mass and heat transfer to reaction safety and scale-up. Industrial photochemistry replaces energy-intensive fossil-fuel-based processes with light-driven synthesis. MSCA Industrial Doctorate, coordinated by Ulm University.

PROSPER − Training the next generation of experts in knowledge-based design PRinciples Of induStrial-scale PhotorEactoRs

Prof. Dr Dirk Ziegenbalg Institute of Chemical Engineering Ulm University dirk.ziegenbalg(at)uni-ulm.de

^{Participating partners: KU Leuven (BE), Kemijski Institut Ljubljana (SI), INP Toulouse (FR), JGU Mainz (DE) and industry partners}
^{Funded by: Horizon Europe}

How cooling towers can help capture CO₂ from the air

The RetroCO2L project is investigating how existing industrial cooling towers can be retrofitted into direct air capture (DAC) systems. This will enable CO₂ to be captured from the air on a large scale, either to offset unavoidable emissions or to serve as a non-fossil carbon source for chemicals and fuels.

RetroCO2L – CDRterra collaborative project: Retrofitting industrial cooling towers for direct air capture (RetroCO2L) – Sub-project 1: Coordination, CO₂ capture

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Güttel, robert.guettel(at)uni-ulm.de

^{Participating partners: Technical University of Munich}
^{Funded by: Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)}

Ammonia from green hydrogen: New integrated reactor technology for the energy transition

Ammonia can serve as a raw material for fertilisers and as an easily transportable hydrogen carrier, thereby helping to replace fossil natural gas pathways in the Chemistry and energy logistics sectors. The PICASO project aims to improve the production of ammonia using green hydrogen from electrolysis rather than hydrogen derived from natural gas.

PICASO − Process Intensification & Advanced Catalysis for Ammonia: Sustainable Optimised Process

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Güttel, Ulm University, robert.guettel(at)uni-ulm.de

^{Participating partners: Fraunhofer ISE}
^{Funded by: BMFTR}

Conversion of methanol and CO₂ into industrial alcohols

The alcohols butanol and hexanol are important industrial intermediates and have so far been produced almost exclusively via petrochemical processes. The project investigates the anaerobic, biotechnological conversion of methanol and CO₂ into butanol and/or hexanol. Methanol is a low-cost feedstock that can be produced via electrochemical CO₂ reduction using green hydrogen. Eubacterium callanderii ferments methanol and CO₂ to produce acetate, butyrate and, potentially, the corresponding alcohols.

APEROL: Anaerobic Production with Eubacterium for Renewable alkohOL

Dr Frank Bengelsdorf, Ulm University, frank.bengelsdorf(at)uni-ulm.de

^{Partners involved: BASF, University of Tübingen}
^{Funded by: EFRE-BW, L-Bank, BASF}

Microorganisms convert problematic waste into basic chemicals

Mixed plastics are considered problematic waste that is difficult to recycle. By combining gasification techniques with microbiological processes, the aim is to convert plastic waste into reusable materials for the chemical industry and thus recycle it sustainably. The aim is to use microbial metabolic processes to convert the waste – which has been transformed into high-energy gas – into the basic chemicals acetate, butyrate, ethanol, butanol and isobutanol.

Mixed plastics: from problem to solution through recovery using microorganisms

Dr Frank Bengelsdorf, Ulm University, frank.bengelsdorf(at)uni-ulm.de

^{Partners involved: University of Stuttgart}
^{Funded by: MWK Baden-Württemberg}

Controlling biogas production to stabilise the electricity grid

Real-time monitoring of the biogas process enables biomethane to be produced more efficiently; by controlling the timing of biogas production through targeted substrate feeding, it is possible to counteract electricity price peaks and stabilise the electricity grid. At the Institute of Botany, a biogas monitoring system based on CO₂ partial pressure was developed and brought to a stage of practical readiness as part of a BMLEH research project. The subsequent EXIST funding led to the foundation of the start-up OptProC, which is supported by Ulm University and cooperates with its facilities.

Real-time process monitoring

Prof. Marian Kazda, Ulm University, marian.kazda(at)uni-ulm.de

^{Funded by: Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs (BMLEH)}

Extracting CO_₂ from the air using light

Using solar energy to release CO₂ captured from a gas stream. By increasing the amount of CO₂ available in a solution following separation, CO₂ can be more easily converted into valuable materials. SolarDAC is developing a light-driven process for direct CO₂ capture from the air (Direct Air Capture) using photocatalysis.

SolarDAC – a Light-driven Molecular Transport System for Direct Air Capture of CO₂

Prof. Dr Sven Rau, Ulm University, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry I, email: sven.rau(at)uni-ulm.de, telephone: 0731/5023900

^{Funded by: Vector Foundation}

Digital twins aid the development of high-performance polymer batteries

To develop more powerful, long-lasting polymer batteries, the project is investigating the electrode structure of polymer batteries using 3D tomography at the nano- and micrometre scales. Based on the image data, digital twins and simulation models are generated to analyse the influence of different morphologies on charge transport and electrochemical processes. The results achieved in the project will contribute to the further decarbonisation of energy generation and storage.

“Characterisation of fabrication-microstructure-property relationships for polymer-based battery materials, combining 3D tomographic imaging with modelling and simulation”

Prof. Volker Schmidt, Ulm University, volker.schmidt(at)uni-ulm.de

^{Participating partners: Helmut Schmidt University of the German Armed Forces, Hamburg; Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy}
^{Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG)}

How reactor materials for nuclear fusion must be structured

Nuclear fusion is regarded as a future and sustainable source of energy. In the long term, it could significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels; however, fusion reactors are still in the development phase worldwide. The A-SMART-FIT project is investigating tungsten composite prototypes for use in fusion reactors. Their microstructures are being statistically analysed and optimised using spatial stochastic modelling. From this, recommendations for the targeted structuring of reactor materials are being derived for manufacturers.

Industrialisation of smart alloys and tungsten-fibre-reinforced tungsten composites for fusion power stations