99 Projects for a Post-fossil Fuel Future

Paving the way for tomorrow’s solutions: This is the motivation of scientists from all nine state universities in Baden-Württemberg, who are working toward a future in which fossil raw materials and energy sources are increasingly replaced by sustainable alternatives. At the state press conference held on July 21, 2026 in Stuttgart, which was attended by Baden-Württemberg’s Minister for Science, Research, and the Arts, Petra Olschowski, and the CEO of the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Dr. Susanne Herre, the state universities presented a list of 99 research projects for a post-fossil future.. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) makes an important contribution.

Read more about the KIT projects (in German)

Storing solar energy in molecules, replacing oil with biobased resources, and making industrial processes and agriculture more energy-efficient – these are only some of the solutions that are currently developed by researchers of the Baden-Württemberg universities. As examples of their scientific work, they are presenting a total of 99 projects, which are paving the way toward a post-fossil fuel future. 

“The projects presented by our state universities demonstrate the contribution that science makes to shaping the future of our society,” said Professor Karla Pollmann, Rector of the University of Tübingen and Chairperson of the Baden-Württemberg State Rectors’ Conference. “The current crises focusing on energy and raw materials are making us aware of how much our economy and our everyday routines still depend on fossil resources. At the same time, Earth Overshoot Day reminds us every year that we consume more resources than our planet can sustainably provide. Times like these call for innovative ideas and scientific insights. Through their research, our universities take on responsibility, developing solutions that address the challenges of our time.”

The selected projects demonstrate how scientific findings enable new technologies and concepts for the sustainable use of energy and resources. They help reduce dependence on fossil raw materials and energy sources and open up new prospects for Baden-Württemberg as a hub of research and innovation. At the same time, they can contribute to slowing climate change and preserving a livable planet for future generations.

Research Creates Options for Addressing the Climate Crisis

“Heat waves like the ones we are currently experiencing will become more frequent, longer, and more intense as climate change progresses,” said Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, President of KIT. “Baden-Württemberg’s universities create the scientific foundation and develop technological solutions to mitigate the causes of global warming and pave the way for a sustainable, climate-friendly future. They are finding ways for us to adapt to climate change. The 99 projects presented now are examples of this research. They show that options for addressing the climate crisis emerge where independent research is conducted, where new ideas are developed, and where innovations are translated into practice.”

Overcoming the Dependence on Fossil Fuels

“With their initiative ‘99 Projects for a Post-fossil Fuel Future,’ our universities once again demonstrate their innovative power and their societal relevance. I’m very grateful to them for this,” said Petra Olschowski, Baden-Württemberg Minister for Science, Research, and the Arts. 

“We must overcome our dependence on fossil energy sources. This way, we protect the climate and strengthen our region as an economic hub. Baden-Württemberg has everything needed for this venture: excellent research, strong universities, innovative companies, and a thriving SME sector. The 99 research projects conducted by our nine state universities prove that our academic community is driving change with new ideas,” said Minister Olschowski. “Leaders in GreenTech strengthen our technological sovereignty and secure our top position as Europe’s leading innovation region. Investments in key green technologies ensure prosperity, jobs, and technological independence. Baden-Württemberg is not only following this path, but is leading the way. We achieve this through targeted technology transfer and an proactive structural policy that begins with cutting-edge research at our universities.”

Projects Conducted by KIT and the State Universities

“Our industry supports the climate goals and the transition to sustainable energy sources and raw materials. This is not only a commitment to future generations, but also a major economic opportunity. Boasting its strong research landscape, innovative SMEs, and technology companies, Baden-Württemberg can compete successfully worldwide with GreenTech solutions,” said Dr. Susanne Herre, CEO of the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce. “It’s crucial that new findings make their way from research into practical application. I’m impressed by the 99 projects presented today. They demonstrate the innovative potential of our universities and can provide important impetus for technology transfer to industry.”

Projects Conducted by KIT and the State Universities

The research projects cover a wide range of topics: novel materials, raw materials, technologies for sustainable energy supply, and political and societal transformation issues.For their initiative “99 Projects for a Post-fossil Fuel Future,” the nine state universities, i.e. University of Freiburg, Heidelberg University, University of Hohenheim, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, University of Konstanz, University of Mannheim, University of Stuttgart, University of Tübingen, and Ulm University, have compiled a joint list featuring some of their current research projects targeted at a post-fossil fuel future. 

Read more about the KIT projects (in German)

KIT Projects: 

From Offshore Wind Power to Synthetic Fuels

PtX@Sea is a project for testing how synthetic fuels can be produced on a floating platform located directly in an offshore wind park – without a connection to the power grid. Fuels and other PtX products can be produced directly at sea using wind power, seawater, and CO₂ from the air. Pursuing the work started by H2Mare PtX-Wind, this project opens up new prospects for the climate-friendly supply of fuels to aviation, shipping, and other sectors that are difficult to electrify.

Converting Industrial CO₂ Emissions to Usable Carbon

Industrial facilities produce CO₂ emissions that can hardly be avoided due to technical constraints. In the NECOC-BW and CO₂DCC projects, KIT is developing system designs that convert CO₂ from exhaust fumes into solid carbon for industrial use. Solid carbon can be used in the cast iron industry to replace fossil foundry coke, thus remaining in the cycle. The technology can also be transferred to other processes where emissions are hardly avoidable, such as thermal waste treatment.

Plastic Waste Becomes a New Raw Material

Mixed, hardly recyclable plastic waste and residues from agriculture and forestry contain valuable carbon. KIT is developing thermochemical processes that turn them into raw materials for the chemical industry. Testing of process chains including pyrolysis, gasification, and upgrading of materials at pilot scale is the focus of the Carbon Cycle Lab project, allowing fossil feedstocks such as crude oil and natural gas and to close carbon cycles.

Perovskite Tandems on the Road to Industrial Maturity

The goal of the PeroClu Cluster of Competence is the development of industrial manufacturing methods for perovskite solar modules and perovskite-based tandem solar modules on glass and flexible substrates.. Tandem modules are particularly efficient for converting sunlight into electric power; at the same time, designs that are lightweight, flexible, and variable in color open up new applications for facades, vehicles, and infrastructure. A pilot production line is conducted to speed up the transfer to industry.

GeoLaB Investigates Heat Source of the Future

GeoLaB creates the scientific foundation for the safe and efficient harnessing of geothermal energy found deep underground in hot, crystalline rock. In the planned underground rock laboratory, KIT and its local partners will investigate how natural heat from great depths can be used in the future to replace natural gas in heat supply systems.

In Search of Batteries for the Post-Lithium Era

The POLiS Cluster of Excellence is aimed at the development of eco-friendly, safe, and powerful electricity storage materials that rely as little as possible on scarce and problematic raw materials such as lithium and cobalt. Instead, battery electrodes on the basis of sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium are being developed and evaluated. These batteries are designed to store electricity from wind and solar energy safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Thus, they make an important contribution to the energy transition, enabling eco-friendly electromobility.

Safe Underground Storage of Green Hydrogen

In the future, green hydrogen might replace natural gas as a seasonal energy reserve. For this purpose, it must be possible to store it safely at large scale. In the European HyDRA project, KIT is investigating the influence of microorganisms and geochemical processes on hydrogen and porous storage rock. Diagnostic tools and risk protocols help the scientists to evaluate suitable locations, detect risks at an early stage, and enable safe underground storage.

Superconducting Current Limiters Protect High-voltage Grids

The development of renewable energy sources causes an increase of short-circuit currents in the transmission grids. CURL380 is a KIT project aimed to develop a superconducting current limiter for the 380 kV grid. In normal operation, the materials used ensure a nearly lossless conduction of electricity; in case of a failure, the device acts like a particularly fast-acting fuse. This makes high-voltage grids more robust without interfering with normal grid operation, and costly expansion or conversion measures can be avoided or postponed significantly.

SEKO: Intelligently Coupling and Testing a Combination of Electricity, Heat, Hydrogen, and Mobility

How can electricity, heating and cooling, hydrogen, energy storage, and mobility be coupled intelligently? KIT is investigating this in the SEKO project, which is conducted in the Energy Lab 2.0 and Living Lab Energy Campus real-world labs. Real facilities are linked with simulations, digital twins, and digital control. The objective is to test and optimize flexible, safe supply systems that are based on renewable energy under real-world conditions.

Stable Power Grids for the Energy Transition

To manage the energy transition, Germany needs a future-proof and smart power grid. In the ENSURE III project, KIT is developing new grid structures and technical solutions for this purpose. KIT’s Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) is also investigating how energy-transition projects can be shaped jointly with societal stakeholders. The aim is to create viable solutions and promote their acceptance by society.

 Municipalities and Their Farewell to Fossil Heating

The KOMM-WÄRME project makes an important contribution to the municipal heating transition. This projects links scientific analyses with the practical experience gained by municipalities to respond as effectively as possible to societal needs s the fuel, tritium, to be produced within the reactor itself. In this context, ITAS is developing an analysis model that can be used to examine and assess the benefits of the measures and the options available to the municipalities, supporting the work of municipal decision-makers with hands-on suggestions.

 Ceramic Breeder Materials for Tomorrow’s Fusion Energy

Nuclear fusion has the potential to provide large amounts of energy with virtually no CO₂ emissions. This requires the fuel – tritium – to be produced within the reactor itself. KIT is developing the European reference material for tritium breeding process: ceramic pebbles containing lithium that produce tritium in breeder blankets irradiated by neutrons. In the ACB-TREND and NICE-ACB projects, researchers are examining how the material behaves under conditions resembling those in a reactor and how reliably tritium is released.