ZAE Bayern at a Glance

Chartered Objectives

The Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research (ZAE Bayern) is a registered, non-profit association. The association was founded in December 1991 and has its registered office in Würzburg. The association was established to promote energy research as well as education, further training, consultation, information and documentation in all fields significant to energy research. The association supports a scientific research institute with three divisions in Würzburg, Erlangen and Garching, employing about 180 scientists, technicians, administrative personnel and students.

Institute Profile

ZAE Bayern conducts fundamental and applied energy research within the framework of development and demonstration projects, assignments for the German Federation, states and local authorities as well as commissioned work.
The most important theme of research at ZAE Bayern is the provision of sustainable energy for industry, transport and buildings, which encompasses the following main topics:

• renewable energy
• energy efficiency
• materials and methods used in energy technology

Competence in materials science, theoretical understanding, development of components and finally optimization of the same within energy systems creates a continuous, knowledge-based chain of value. Our integrative approach to these individual focuses facilitates the task of finding effective solutions to increase energy efficiency and boost the use of renewable energy sources.
Projects realized at the institute take advantage of interdivisional cooperation and benefit from the competences within the close network of research groups within each division.
Education is a further pillar of ZAE Bayern’s activities; around 30 graduands and students completed degree or project work at ZAE Bayern in 2009.

Cooperations

ZAE Bayern promotes the practical application of scientific findings, constantly endeavouring to form cooperative partnerships with scientific and industrial organizations. Joint projects realized by the institute’s divisions together with industrial partners profit from close networking and the resulting synergies.
Thanks to success in raising third-party funds over several years, ZAE Bayern is not only able to open up new areas of energy research, but is also experiencing growth in human resources and investments.
ZAE Bayern has special close ties with the universities in Munich, Würzburg and Erlangen as professors from these universities form the institute’s board of directors.
ZAE Bayern is a member of the “Renewable Energy Research Association” (FVEE), a strategic partnership between non-university German research institutes working in the field of renewable energy.
Prof. V. Dyakonov was voted Assistant Spokesman for FVEE in 2009.

Organization

The institute comprises three divisions. The division in Garching, “Technology for Energy Systems and Renewable Energy”, is managed by two scientific directors, university professors Dr. Ulrich Stimming and Dr. Hartmut Spliethoff, and head of division, Wolfgang Schölkopf (Dipl.-Phys.). The division develops and researches heat storage and conversion as well as electrochemical conversion and storage. Further focuses of R&D are biomass as well as geothermal and solar thermal systems.
The division in Erlangen, “Photovoltaics and Thermosensorics”, is headed by Prof. Dr. Christoph J. Brabec together with acting head of division Richard Auer (Dipl.-Ing.). The division’s fields of research include developing solar cell concepts and components on the basis of thin, crystalline silicon, with the aim of increasing solar cell efficiency, as well as printable solar cells and solvent-based production technology. Increased usage of high (spatial and temporal) resolution infrared imaging (lock-in thermography) in the field of photovoltaics rounds off the division’s spectrum of research.
The Würzburg division, “Functional Materials for Energy Technology”, is managed by Professor Dr. Vladimir Dyakonov and Dr. Hans-Peter Ebert. The field of sol-gel based materials presents a focus for the division’s research and development, particularly functional coatings with integrated nanoparticles and porous moulded parts. Our work in material development involves improving thermophysical, optical and electrical properties, for instance, to optimize the energy efficiency of buildings.
ZAE Bayern has its own independent administration headed by Thomas Pharo (Dipl.-Betriebswirt). The team is based in Würzburg and deals with human resources, controlling, accounting and public relations. The central administration team also maintains liaison between the board of directors, the divisions and external partners and members. They also support and organize the work of the board, the trustees, the scientific advisory committee and the association.

Governing Bodies

At the end of 2009, the “Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research” registered association had 43 members consisting of members ex officio, natural persons, companies, associations/institutions and honorary members. A constantly high number of members indicates the pertinence of our fields of research and the high quality of the results. This is also confirmed by the close partnership and business relations between ZAE Bayern and its members.
ZAE Bayern’s general assembly took place at the ZAE Bayern division in Erlangen on 25th November 2009. After the annual reports were presented by chairman of the board, Prof. Dr. V. Dyakonov, and chairman of the board of trustees, Dr. Roland Hofer, the board of directors’ and board of trustees’ actions in 2008 were approved. The board of directors was re-elected for two years, while Prof. Dr. R. Weißmann retired from the board and Prof. Dr. Ch. J. Brabec was voted onto the board as his successor. ZAE Bayern’s board of directors is responsible for planning research, expansion, personnel and financing.
The scientific advisory council set up in 2008 and chaired by Prof. Dr. J. Garche undertook an internal scientific evaluation of all three divisions in 2009, which serves to prepare for the evaluation which is part of the process of being accepted into the Leibniz Association. Evaluation criteria have been drawn up based on the recommendations made by the evaluation panel from the German Council of Science and Humanities.

Cooperations

The institute has close ties with

• Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg
• Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg
• Technical University Munich
• Research Institute for Energy Economy (FfE) Prof. Dr.-Ing. U. Wagner
• Institute for Design and Construction Technology TU München, Prof. Th. Herzog

Due to these close ties, fundamental research in the field of energy technology flows into the application-orientated R&D at ZAE Bayern. Young scientists have the opportunity to receive a more practice-oriented education. The close interaction between research and application is conducive to the efficient realization of innovations.

Spin-offs

6 spin-offs have already evolved from ZAE Bayern over the last few years. Among them is a company that produces vacuum insulation products Another spin-off deals with thermosensorics in industrial processes such as the production of photovoltaic modules.