Scope

The so-called Energy Transition denotes the fundamental change of the current energy use that is still based to a large extend on fossil and nuclear sources toward “renewables” such as solar, hydro and wind power. A major technological challenge in context of this paradigm shift is related to the highly discontinuous production of electricity in particular from wind and solar sources thus causing tremendous stability issues to the entire power supply system (grid). Therefore various energy storage/conversion technologies are currently being developed which are intended to stabilize the grid by buffering the surplus of such “renewable” electricity as well as to enable more delocalized energy schemes. Various electrosynthesis approaches are currently considered as promising alternatives/supplements to the classical battery approaches, which have limited capacity. The basic idea behind these schemes is not only the (temporary) storage of electricity in form of added-value chemicals, e.g. high energy density fuels, but also a new paradigm to produce chemical feedstock from abundant resources (power-to-X approach).

This International Summer School aims at providing an overview about the status quo in the current electrosynthesis research relevant to this energy transition. Possible starting materials of this (catalytic) electrosynthesis approaches might be, but are not restricted to, CO₂, N₂, H₂O and even more complex organic reactants. Not only fundamentals of these electroconversion processes shall be discussed but also concepts how to implement them into current and future industrial applications. For this purpose internationally renowned researchers from academia as well as industry present their work. During the whole Summer School there will be plenty of room for exchange and discussions.