Energy Systems of the Future

ESYS identifies alternative solution paths (courses of action) for implementing the energy transition from a scientific perspective. When selecting its areas of work, ESYS ensures that the topics surrounding the transformation of energy systems are relevant and forward-looking from scientific, political and societal perspectives. Working Groups are established by decision of the ESYS Directorate.

ESYS results are intended to make scientific findings usable for the energy policy debate. ESYS communication addresses federal policymakers, media representatives, the German and international energy policy community, the broader scientific community, and policymakers at state and EU level. The interested public also has free access to all ESYS publications and is always welcome at all public ESYS events.

The results of Working Groups are generally published as joint position papers of the Academies. Position papers set out concrete courses of action for implementing the energy transition, and assess and compare them. They address a defined question and take account of ESYS’s interdisciplinary approach. Position papers are primarily aimed at people with prior knowledge of the subject area, such as actors in energy policy, academia, industry and organised civil society.

To limit the scope of appendices and footnotes while maintaining scientific transparency, supplementary information from the development process, such as detailed reviews of the current state of knowledge, data analyses or descriptions of the methodology, can be published as materials or, in individual cases, as an analysis.

An ESYS Impulse addresses a defined question relevant to a current political debate in a brief and concise manner. It does not provide a comprehensive treatment of the topic. For example, an Impulse may present the perspectives of different actors on a currently important issue on the basis of expert workshops or interviews with specialists.

The “Explained briefly!” format presents a topic of interest to a broader public concisely, on a sound scientific basis and in an accessible way. It is aimed at people interested in the subject who have little prior knowledge of the topic covered.

All ESYS publications undergo a multi-stage quality assurance process:

Regular expert exchange: The quality of the work is ensured through regular exchange with specialists throughout the development of publications. Within a Working Group, this takes place through collaboration among its members and by involving additional experts on specific questions. For Impulses, it takes place through targeted exchange with ESYS members and other experts in the form of specialist workshops, interviews and bilateral discussions.

Monitoring: The ESYS Directorate, which comprises experienced researchers from different disciplines and institutions and therefore has broad scientific expertise, continuously monitors all substantive ESYS activities. It also regularly exchanges views with the Working Group leads or principal authors of publications, ensures the necessary breadth of topics and scientific basis, and suggests relevant scientific sources.

Broad commenting: Where publications are wholly or partly based on the results of Working Group meetings or one or more specialist workshops, all Working Group members who are not authors and the participants in the workshop receive the publication for comment before it is published. However, unless they are authors of the paper, approval by Working Group members or workshop participants is not a prerequisite for publication. Authors are required to examine the comments of all participants critically and document them.

Review: Before approval, the ESYS Directorate reviews the scientific quality of publications and compliance with scientific standards. Position papers undergo an additional quality-management step comprising a specialist discussion and related written comments. Relevant experts from academia, industry, politics and public administration, as well as organised civil society, who are not part of the Working Group, are invited to participate in this discussion and comment process

The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space funds ESYS with 2.5 million euros per year.

No. The members are involved in the ESYS initiative on a voluntary basis. This also applies to the members of the ESYS Directorate, ESYS Board of Trustees and ESYS network. Representatives of university and non-university research are only reimbursed for travel expenses when they take an active role in Working Group meetings or other ESYS events. The full-time ESYS Headquarters supports ESYS members and the ESYS Directorate in their work. External paid research consultants may also contribute to research and drafting during the term of a Working Group where appropriate.