Research & Teaching

An important task of the Chair is to incorporate transdisciplinary knowledge of applied sustainability and transformation research into university teaching. For this purpose, the modules "Regulation and Assessment of the Systemic Aspects of the Energy Transition" and "Introduction to Sustainability Transitions" are offered.

Possible topics for master thesis are:

1. PV on apartment buildings: Barriers and regulatory options
2. Analysis of Renewable potential with GIS
3. Renewables from niche to mainstream: How to adapt financing mechanisms for renewables?

4. How can socio-technical transition dynamics be integrated into techno-economic modelling?

5. Renewables Non-economic barriers (permitting etc.)

6. Heat pumps (how to use them, coordination with energy system, regulation)

7. Development/Regulation of hydrogen infrastructure, transformation of the gas infrastructure
8. Electricity network regulation and network innovation/transformation
9. The pros and cons of developing local hydrogen projects, like for example in Dietenbach/Freiburg
10. Regulatory Experiments: Case studies, design options
11. Real-world laboratories
12. The role of independent regulators in sustainability transitions
13. Sustainability transitions: Strategies for system building (see this paper for details)
14. Sustainability transitions: Comparing/Mapping different concepts and approaches (socio-technical, socio-ecological concepts etc.)
15. The role of economic efficiency in sustainability transitions

16. Right-wing movements and sustainability transformations

17. Academic and applied transformation research: Differences, common ground and options for co-production.