German Aerospace Center (DLR)

To explore Earth and space and to develop technologies for a sustainable future – this is the mission of the 10,000 employees of DLR. Besides its name, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) not only conducts research in the field of aeronautics but also engages in numerous other key research areas in his 55 research institutes and facilities. Climate, mobility, and technology are changing globally. DLR uses the expertise of its employees to develop solutions to these challenges.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is the Federal Republic of Germany's research centre for aeronautics and space. It covers the fields of aeronautics and space, but also energy, transport, security, and digitalisation with research and development activities. Its headquarters are located in Cologne. DLR has 30 locations throughout Germany and offices in Brussels, Belgium, Tokyo, Japan, and Washington, United States of America. In addition to its research institutes and facilities – including numerous large-scale research facilities – the German Space Agency and two DLR project management agencies also belong to the DLR.

DLR is engaged in a wide range of research and development projects in national and international partnerships. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres.

Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics

The Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics conducts research into efficient resource-saving energy storage systems and next generation energy conversion technologies. The activities range from theoretical studies and basic research-oriented laboratory work to operating pilot plants. The experimental and theoretical research is accompanied by systems analysis studies. These studies analyse the associated technological, environmental, and economic potential and place it with the help of scenarios in a larger overall context of the energy economy.

The departments and groups of the institute deal with thermal process technology, electrochemical energy technology, fuel cell technology, computational electrochemistry, and energy systems integration. The institute is located in Stuttgart, with further research facilities in Cologne, Ulm, Oldenburg, and Hamburg. It has more than 180 scientific and technical employees, engineers, and doctoral candidates. It works closely together with the University of Stuttgart – especially with the Institute of Energy Storage – and with the Helmholtz Institute Ulm at the University of Ulm.

The research and work of DLR mainly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals 7, 9, 11, and 13: