Fraunhofer opens €49.85M energy storage center in Braunschweig for solid-state batteries and hydrogen

Fraunhofer ZESS strengthens technology transfer and sustainable energy storage research in Germany

At a ceremony on October 5, 2026, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft officially opened the new building of the Fraunhofer Center for Energy Storage and Systems ZESS in Braunschweig. The German federal government and the State of Lower Saxony have invested approximately 49.85 million euros in the research facility. Covering around 3,300 square meters – including ap-proximately 1,750 square meters of laboratory space and a 450-square-meter drying room – it provides researchers with state-of-the-art infrastructure for the development of next-generation solid-state batteries and innovative hydrogen technologies.

In his welcome address to the around 100 guests from the worlds of politics, business, and science, Prof. Constantin Häfner, Executive Board Member for Research and Transfer at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, emphasized the strategic importance of the new center within the Fraunhofer research landscape: “High-performance battery and hydrogen technologies are crucial to the energy and mobility transition – and to the competitiveness of our industry. With the Fraunhofer ZESS, we are turning inventions into industrial innovations, thereby strengthening value creation and technological sovereignty in Germany and Europe.”

Federal Minister of Research Dorothee Bär praised the center as a key building block for Germany’s innovative capacity:

The development of high-performance battery and hydrogen technologies will play a decisive role in determining how competitive and self-reliant Germany and Europe will be in the coming decades.

”With the Fraunhofer ZESS, we are making a targeted investment in a research infrastructure that combines cutting-edge research with industrial implementation. This strengthens Germany’s international position in key technology fields, fully in line with our High-Tech Agenda for Germany.”

Lower Saxony’s Minister of Science, Falko Mohrs, also emphasized the strategic importance of the new center:

In Lower Saxony, we are making a targeted commitment to future technologies that secure value creation, innovation, and skilled jobs.

”The investment in the Fraunhofer ZESS is an excellent example of this. The new location complements Lower Saxony’s battery and hydrogen ecosystem and creates ideal conditions for translating research results into industrial applications more quickly. As a result, we are establishing excellent conditions for science, technology transfer, and economic development.”

Prof. Anja Hesse, Head of the Department of Culture and Science for the City of Braunschweig, emphasized:

The Fraunhofer ZESS exemplifies the innovative strength of the Braunschweig region, which ranks among Europe’s leading research regions.

”The new research facility provides a significant boost to Braunschweig as a hub for science and innovation and transmits a strong signal regarding our region’s future viability.”

Prof. Angela Ittel, President of the Technische Universität Braunschweig, added: “With the Fraunhofer ZESS, our internationally renowned battery research gains a strong partner on the path to industrial application. Together with our Battery LabFactory and the Center for Circular Production of Next Batteries and Fuel Cells (CPC), we will advance resource-efficient technologies that will benefit us here in the region – and far beyond.”

Prof. Christoph Herrmann, Institute Director of the Fraunhofer IST and spokesperson for the Fraunhofer ZESS, also emphasized the close collaboration with the TU Braunschweig, within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, and with industry partners:

At the Fraunhofer ZESS, we consider the entire process chain – from new materials, through production technologies, and on to sustainability and the circular economy.

”By pooling complementary expertise, we create ideal conditions for the targeted further development of key technologies – such as solid-state batteries and hydrogen technologies – for industrial scaling and application.”

During a panel discussion, experts discussed the future prospects of battery and hydrogen technologies. They emphasized that scientific excellence across the entire value chain, speed in development and technology transfer, and consideration of economic and environmental conditions are key factors for success.

The combination of technological innovation and sustainability is one of the guiding principles at the Fraunhofer ZESS. This applies not only to the research work, facilities, and equipment, but also to the building itself. Guests were able to experience this for themselves during the subsequent tour. The research building was constructed as a hybrid timber structure with minimal use of concrete. Photovoltaic systems on the roof and façade, green roofs, an energy-efficient building design, and flexible research spaces combine state-of-the-art research conditions with a holistic approach to sustainability. The open hall structure also allows for long-term adaptation to future research requirements, making the building a forward-looking and resource-efficient research facility.

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Fraunhofer ZESS strengthens technology transfer and sustainable energy storage research in Germany, source