Science Year 2025: Exciting lectures on the energy transition in Hanover!

Science Year 2025: Exciting lectures on the energy transition in Hanover!

The Leibniz University of Hannover (LUH) and the Hannover Adult Education Center are setting an important accent in energy research with the lecture series “Knowledge creates energy: Energy research for the city of tomorrow”, which started in 2025. This series, which will take place from October to December 2025, aims to underpin LUH's contribution to climate-friendly development and the energy transition in the city. Entry to the events is free, but registration is recommended to secure seats. The series of lectures is part of the activities as part of the LUH's “Future Energy” science year, which focuses on innovative solutions for energy supply that can also be used in urban areas.

The highlights of the lecture series include topics such as the use of hydrogen, intelligent power grids and sustainable approaches to aviation. On October 15, 2025, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach will talk about how “Hydrogen energy source – essential for the energy transition” can be used, especially in the areas of mobility and energy storage.

Diverse topics of the energy transition

Another important topic in the series, which will be discussed on October 29, 2025, is the role of cogeneration plants and heat pumps in climate-friendly heat supply. For this purpose, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Kabelac and Dr. Niklas Wehbring discuss how the gas network and hydrogen can contribute to the heat transition.

The third event on November 12, 2025 focuses on intelligent power grids, which are essential for a stable energy supply. For this purpose, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Lutz Hofmann and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Axel Mertens will explain how these networks work and the future.

On November 26, 2025, the focus will be on sustainability in air travel. Prof. Dr. Friedrich Dinkelacker and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Seume will discuss the various ways in which a sustainable energy mix, including hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions in aviation.

Hydrogen: Key to decarbonization

Hydrogen is seen as a central part of global energy transition efforts. It can be used not only for electricity production, but also as fuel in aviation. Current studies show that global demand for hydrogen in aviation could rise to 17 million tonnes by 2050, which would enable a reduction of up to 9% of CO2 emissions in aviation. These data were published as part of two research papers by the DLR Institute of Aviation that deal with the economic perspectives of sustainable fuels and hydrogen. Sustainable aviation fuels offer potential for CO2 reductions in the short to medium term, while hydrogen could be crucial in the long term.

In Germany, hydrogen is divided into different “colors” depending on how it is produced. Green hydrogen, which is produced from renewable electricity, plays a special role here. In the long term, costs of around EUR 70/MWh could have to be achieved to cover the demand for hydrogen, as the current DLR study shows, which predicts a potential for savings of up to 23% of CO2 emissions.

In addition, there are the challenges of building infrastructure and supply chains for sustainable fuels, which, according to DLR, are of great importance in driving forward the acceptance and introduction of SAF. The current share of sustainable fuels in aircraft fuel consumption in Europe is only around 1%.

The LUH lecture series thus reflects the urgency and relevance of current research conditions. It not only addresses technical possibilities, but also encourages discussion about the social and economic framework conditions that are necessary for the successful implementation of the energy transition. Further information about the events can be found on the LUH website.