In the future, researchers and developers are to jointly develop future strategies from the area of classical power plant technologies and solar-thermal power plants. The aim: greater flexibility for large power plants, to develop new types of large storage facilities, conduct wide-ranging research on use of hydrogen in power plant processes and above all economically optimise solar power plants.

Around 150 experts took part in the founding event for the new Flexible Energy Transition research network at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Berlin. Half of them were from the field of business and industry and the other half from research facilities and universities. In addition to conventional power plant technology, topics to be addressed by the new network now also include solar-thermal power plants and large thermal storage facilities. This combines all thermal power plant technologies under one roof for the first time. Right from the start, the new network can build on a solid basis of know-how developed for conventional power plant technology and solar power plants over the last few years. At present, experts can contribute their proposals for topics and suggestions for the 7th Energy Research Programme for discussion through the network.