An excellent example of our support for universities is the E.ON Energy Research Center (E.ON ERC) at the RWTH Aachen. The Research Center combines the decisive pillars of energy research: Generation, transformation distribution and storage of energy linked with behavioral social and economic questioning. With this interdisciplinary concept, the Research Center, which was founded within the framework of a public-private partnership between E.ON AG and RWTH Aachen, is a novelty in the German and European university sphere.

Here, scientists from the faculties of Economics, Geo-resources and Materials Technology, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology follow a common vision: They want to explore how a sustainable energy supply can be achieved.

Here, the call question of a possible reduction in energy consumption by introducing savings measures and efficiency improvements occupies the researchers just as much as the possibility of using environmentally-friendly energy sources. Seven professors and about 120 staff members are currently carrying out research on more than 70 projects. The range of topics extends from renewables and energy storage through to intelligent electricity grids and electromobility and even as far as the consumption behavior of electricity customers.

Since its formation in 2006, the Research Center has been managed by Prof. Dr. Rik De Doncker.

E.ON supports the Research Center with a sum of EUR40 million over ten years. Furthermore, the Research Center finances itself with third-party funds that it is to raise itself.