Project Office

Energy Systems of the Future
Project
Project Office

The Project Office “Energy Systems of the Future”

The Project Office “Energy Systems of the Future” supports the members and various committees in the project work. The Project Office is located at the offices of acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering at Georgenstraße 25 in Berlin and at Karolinenplatz 4 in Munich.

The Project Office staff

coordinate the Working Groups and supports their technical work
conceive and organise workshops and dialogue panels
prepare and follow up committee meetings
support the editorial and publication processes
are responsible for the press and PR

Employees

Dr. Cyril Stephanos
Energy Systems of the Future
Head of Project Office

Dr. Cyril Stephanos
Head of Project Office
Energy Systems of the Future
+49 (0)172 144 5876
stephanos@acatech.de

Cyril Stephanos is Head of the ESYS Project Office. He joined the Project Office in March 2014 as Scientific Officer. After his PhD in physics, he did research in the fields of energy conversion and materials science at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research. During his time as a PhD student at the Department of Experimental Physics at the University of Augsburg, he also worked at the Department of Resource Strategy.

Daniela Niethammer
Energy Systems of the Future
- on parental leave -
Deputy Head of Project Office / Stakeholder Dialogues Officer

Daniela Niethammer
Deputy Head of Project Office / Stakeholder Dialogues Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
+49 (0)151 1552 11 66
niethammer@acatech.de

Daniela Niethammer joined the ESYS Project team in January 2018 as coordinator for Stakeholder Dialogues. Since September 2022, she has been Deputy Head of the Project Office. Her previous activities focused on Franco-German energy cooperation during which she spent two years working for the science and energy department of the French Embassy in Berlin. She studied political science in France and England and specialized in international relations and renewable energies.

Miriam Borgmann
Energy Systems of the Future
Deputy Head of Project Office / Scientific Officer

Miriam Borgmann
Deputy Head of Project Office / Scientific Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
089/52 03 09-75
borgmann@acatech.de

Miriam Borgmann started working for the ESYS project in September 2021. She focuses on the topics of energy and carbon markets, photovoltaics and sustainable heat supply. Previously, she worked for a sustainability consultancy for the property sector, where she carried out photovoltaic feasibility studies and sustainability certifications for construction projects. Miriam Borgmann studied Sustainable Resource Management at the Technical University of Munich. In her Master thesis she analysed the recycling of photovoltaic modules using a life cycle analysis.

Jörn Gierds
Energy Systems of the Future
Deputy Head of Project Office / Scientific Officer

Jörn Gierds
Deputy Head of Project Office / Scientific Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
+49 (0)151 5281 8795
gierds@acatech.de

Jörn Gierds joined the ESYS project office in February 2022. He particularly focuses on the topics of carbon management, carbon markets, heating market and gas industry. Before joining ESYS, he worked for several years in management consultancies in the energy sector. In these positions, he was particularly involved with topics in the fields of power-to-X / hydrogen, the heating market and grid operation. Jörn Gierds studied Economics and European Studies in Berlin and Frankfurt (Oder).

Dr. Berit Erlach
Energy Systems of the Future
Scientific Officer

Dr. Berit Erlach
Scientific Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
+49 (0)175 4935 623
erlach@acatech.de

Berit Erlach joined the Project in September 2013 and is mainly responsible for the topics of energy scenarios, raw materials, bioenergy and carbon management. Previously, she worked as a research associate at the TU Berlin and wrote her doctoral thesis on bioenergy. After her graduation in energy and process engineering, she worked for three years in an engineering office in the fields of technical engineering and energy consulting.

Philipp Stöcker
Energy Systems of the Future
Scientific Officer

Philipp Stöcker
Scientific Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
stoecker@acatech.de

Philipp Stöcker joined the ESYS project in July 2023 as Scientific Officer. His focus is energy system analysis with emphasis on sustainable energy supply and energy storage. Previously, he headed the department of Grid Integration and Storage System Analysis at the Chair of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Systems at RWTH Aachen University. In parallel, he supported several working groups at ESYS as consulting Scientific Officer since 2014. Philipp Stöcker studied Technical Cybernetics in Stuttgart and San Diego.

Sven Wurbs
Energy Systems of the Future
Scientific Officer

Sven Wurbs
Scientific Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
+49 (0)160 9443 9911
wurbs@acatech.de

Sven Wurbs joined the ESYS project office in April 2021. His thematic focus is on energy policy and politics, hydrogen economy and sustainable design of supply infrastructures. Previously, he worked in an institute of practice-oriented sustainability research in projects on renewable energies, adaptation to climate change impacts and the development of rural areas, among others. He completed his studies in political science in Berlin, where he focused on inter- and transdisciplinary research issues.

Claire Stark
Energy Systems of the Future
Communications Officer

Claire Stark
Communications Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
089/52 03 09-929
stark@acatech.de

Claire Stark joined the ESYS Project team in February 2023 as a trainee. Since January 2024, she has been working as Communications Officer. Previously, alongside her studies in chemistry, she worked in the exhibition service of a museum of science and technology and at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in the field of science communication.

Annika Eßmann
Energy Systems of the Future
Communications Officer

Annika Eßmann
Communications Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
089/52 03 09-828
essmann@acatech.de

Annika Eßmann has been working as a communications officer in the project Energy Systems of the Future since January 2024. She is responsible for the content on the website and the social media channels. She learned and improved her craft as a trainee and scientific advisor at acatech. Next to her Master's degree in Science and Technology Studies, she wrote articles as a freelance journalist for various institutions, including the Max Planck Society.

Annika Seiler
Energy Systems of the Future
Publications and Project Management Officer

Annika Seiler
Publications and Project Management Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
089/52 03 09-848
seiler@acatech.de

Annika Seiler joined the ESYS Project team in January 2024 as Publications and Project Management Officer. She previously worked as coordinator for publications since April 2020. After her studies of Publishing Production Management in Leipzig, she worked as production manager for a publisher of specialist books and journals. Following this, she worked as a media producer and project manager in the publishing sector with a focus on calendars, puzzles and B2B

Valerie Tilker-Kwan
Energy Systems of the Future
Stakeholder Dialogues Officer

Valerie Tilker-Kwan
Stakeholder Dialogues Officer
Energy Systems of the Future
+49 (0)160 557 5360
tilker-kwan@acatech.de

Valerie Tilker-Kwan has been working as a Stakeholder Dialogue Officer in the ESYS project since March 2024. She was previously responsible for the stakeholder dialogue in the related H2-Compass project. Between her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Economics and Policy in Canada and her Master's degree in Integrated Natural Resource Management in Berlin, she studied linguistics and worked for several years in the educational sector.

Christiane Abele
Energy Systems of the Future
Project Assistant

Christiane Abele
Project Assistant
Energy Systems of the Future
089/52 03 09-34
abele@acatech.de

Christiane Abele has been with acatech since October 2017. Until April 2020 she supported the Finance/Human Resources department as a clerk, since May she has been working as a project assistant for the project Energy Systems of the Future. Prior to this, the trained travel management assistant worked mainly as an assistant for various international companies.

Florentine Straub
Energy Systems of the Future
Project Assistant

Florentine Straub
Project Assistant
Energy Systems of the Future
straub@acatech.de

Florentine Straub joined acatech in February 2011. Until March 2013, she was employed as team assistant for the acatech project centre, since then she has been supporting the ESYS Project Office as a project assistant. Her prior professional experiences include jobs as an assistant in a medical specialist association and as an IT management assistant for various companies.

Polina Pienkina
Energy Systems of the Future
Working Student

Polina Pienkina
Working Student
Energy Systems of the Future
pienkina@acatech.de

Polina Pienkina has been employed as a student assistant in the “Energy Systems of the Future” project since June 2024. She studies political science at the LMU Munich, where she also works as a tutor. As part of ESYS, she supports the academic staff in various research and organizational activities.

Silvia Biagioli
Energy Systems of the Future
Working Student

Silvia Biagioli
Working Student
Energy Systems of the Future
biagioli@acatech.de

Silvia Biagioli joined the ESYS Team as a working student in June 2024. She completed her bachelor’s degree in political science at the TU in Munich. She is currently doing her master’s degree in European Studies at the University of Bath and at the Humboldt University in Berlin. In the ESYS project she supports the scientific officers in their research and communication activities.

Benedikte Eiden
Energy Systems of the Future
Working Student

Benedikte Eiden
Working Student
Energy Systems of the Future
eiden@acatech.de

Benedikte Eiden joined the ESYS project team in June 2022 as a student assistant. She studied Economics at the University of Bonn and Political Science at the Technical University of Munich and is currently enrolled in the Masterprogram of Politics & Technology at the Technical University of Munich. Previously, she worked as a student assistant in the communications department of the acatech secretariat. In the project, she supports the communication team and the scientific advisors in their work.

Lily Voge
Energy Systems of the Future
Working Student

Lily Voge
Working Student
Energy Systems of the Future
voge@acatech.de

Lily Voge has been employed as a working student in the “Energy Systems of the Future” project since June 2024. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University College Amsterdam. She currently studies computer science at the Humboldt University of Berlin. As part of ESYS, she supports the scientific officers in various research and organizational activities.