Nine years of energy transition research: X-Energy celebrates successful conclusion : Date:
Advancing the energy transition requires practical solutions from academia and industry. For nine years, researchers at the Competence Center for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (CC4E) at the HAW Hamburg have been developing these solutions in collaboration with corporate partners as part of the X-Energy partnership. In February 2026, representatives from academia, business, and politics recognized the numerous research results at a closing conference.
X-Energy (partnership portrait) has conducted research into concrete solutions for a carbon-neutral energy system, some of which are already in practical use. For instance, the teams improved bat protection at wind turbines and developed measures to reduce their noise emissions. Virtual wind farms made turbines accessible and audible, facilitating planning, training, and public acceptance efforts. In addition, the researchers optimized two-blade rotors and multi-rotor systems and, together with the University of Strathclyde, established an annual international conference on multi-rotor research. Furthermore, the scientists focused on technologies that are expected to be needed on a large scale in ten to 15 years. Examples include systems for capturing CO2 from the air or biological processes that use microorganisms to convert CO2 and electricity into methane.
Thus, X-Energy bolstered research, the next generation of academics, and knowledge transfer at the HAW Hamburg. Nearly 130 theses, 18 doctoral projects, around 40 scientific publications, and approximately 160 presentations and poster presentations demonstrate the scale of the achievements. Two spin-offs were enabled or supported by X Energy: one focused on the intelligent control of heat and power generators, and another in the field of maintenance strategies for wind turbines. Finally, the project also played a key role in the HAW Hamburg being granted the right to award doctoral degrees in the field of “Sustainable Technologies and Systems (STS)” in the spring of 2025.
On February 18, 2026, representatives from academia, business, and politics – including Hamburg’s Second Mayor and Senator for the Environment, Climate, Energy, and Agriculture (BUKEA), Katharina Fegebank – honoured the results of the partnership at the closing conference. On the conclusion of X-Energy, Katharina Fegebank emphasized the importance of applied research for a rapid energy transition: “Collaboration between science and industry is indispensable for the energy transition in our city. It accelerates innovation processes and contributes to the vital transfer of knowledge and technology.”
Dr. Michael Weber from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) explained the objectives of the FH-Impuls funding, through which X-Energy was financed. A panel discussion with guests from industry and academia focused on experiences from collaborative research and its benefits for universities, companies, and society. The participating research groups then presented their findings from the subprojects.
Mike Blicker, coordinator and partnership spokesperson for X-Energy at CC4E, summarized the partnership activities as follows: “Thanks to the projects within X-Energy, we have been able to welcome new professors and colleagues to CC4E, and we have also established or expanded our contacts with industry partners. We have significantly expanded and structurally anchored energy research at CC4E. Many solutions for the energy transition have already been developed, and we are well-positioned to continue contributing to the energy transition.”
Text source: HAW Hamburg