SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy

All renovation and new building projects at FAU are subject to the ambitious energy efficiency standards of the Free State of Bavaria. These binding regulations ensure that construction and refurbishment across the university follows the highest standards of energy-efficient building and renovation.

In addition to new projects, FAU also implements plans to upgrade existing buildings to higher energy efficiency. This includes systematic refurbishment measures in line with the Bavarian State Ministry’s programme on energetic renovation as well as FAU’s own Integrated Climate Protection Concept (2024), which defines pathways for reducing energy consumption and upgrading the building stock.

• Policy framework: All construction and refurbishment at FAU must comply with Bavarian government requirements for energy-efficient renovation and building (Bavarian State Ministry for Housing, Building and Transport – Energetische Sanierung)
• Institutional implementation: FAU applies these standards in all projects and is actively upgrading existing buildings as part of its campus development strategy.
• Public plan: The Integrated Climate Protection Concept (2024) sets concrete measures for reducing energy demand and increasing efficiency across FAU’s infrastructure.
• Implemented retrofit projects: LED upgrades, modernized HVAC systems, energy-efficient lighting

FAU has established a comprehensive process for carbon management and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which is defined in its Integrated Climate Protection Concept (2024). This framework sets both holistic and partial greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets, including concrete milestones and monitoring mechanisms to ensure progress.

• Definition of carbon neutrality: FAU aligns its approach with the Kyoto Protocol definition of GHG neutrality (net zero emissions), focusing primarily on the cost-efficient reduction of emissions rather than offsetting.
• Ambitious reduction targets:
• Scopes 1+2 (direct and energy-related emissions): –30% by 2027, –70% by 2030, and –100% (net zero) by 2035 compared to the 2022 baseline.
• Scope 3 (upstream and downstream emissions): gradual reductions of –2.5% by 2027, –5% by 2030, –10% by 2035, and –15% by 2040.
• Particular focus areas: energy supply, buildings, mobility, procurement, and other university-specific emission sources, mostly with partial goals and milestones to 2040.
• Monitoring and control: Chapter 9 of the Climate Protection Concept defines processes to control achievement of targets and ensure ongoing evaluation.
• Policy alignment: FAU’s carbon reduction strategy is aligned with the Bavarian Climate Protection Act (BayKlimaG), which stipulates climate-neutral administration by 2028 (not applicable for universities) and overall state-wide neutrality by 2040.

FAU implements a structured energy efficiency plan that is part of its Integrated Climate Protection Concept (2024).

• A comprehensive portfolio of energy-saving measures, both centrally coordinated by the Green Office and supported at departmental level (e.g. raising employees’ awareness for energy saving, use of smart metering for consumption monitoring).
• Implementation of prioritized energy-saving actions in FAU’s building inventory, such as lighting retrofits, adjusting room temperatures and installing more efficient ventilation systems

This framework demonstrates FAU’s institutional commitment to reducing overall energy consumption, guided by a publicly available strategic planning document.

FAU has implemented a comprehensive energy efficiency plan (Integrated Climate Protection Concept, 2024) to systematically reduce overall energy consumption across all campuses. Key measures include:

• optimization of building operations and installation of energy-efficient technologies,
• deployment of energy scouts to raise awareness and support behavioral change,
• integration of smart metering and monitoring systems to continuously track and reduce energy demand.

As part of the plan, FAU conducts regular energy reviews to identify areas of highest energy wastage. These reviews provide the basis for targeted interventions, such as retrofits, equipment replacement, and improved operational management.

The measures and results are publicly documented and form a central pillar of FAU’s Integrated Climate Protection Concept.

FAU has a policy in place that ensures all investments made by the university and its more than 65 foundations follow a secure, sustainable, and ethical investment strategy. In addition to economic criteria, FAU applies sustainability and ESG standards to all asset management processes.

Within this framework, FAU explicitly addresses divestment as part of its risk and asset management, particularly in view of the transition to a low-carbon economy. Investments in carbon-intensive energy industries such as coal and oil are avoided, and the university works with financial institutions that commit to responsible and sustainable investment practices.

👉 FAU Foundations – Sustainable Investment Approach

FAU actively engages the regional community in energy efficiency and clean energy awareness through the following outreach initiatives:

• #FAUspartEnergie: A platform offering practical energy-saving tips, encouraging participation via social media and raising awareness across the broader public and FAU community.
• Energy Campus Nürnberg (EnCN): Hosts public workshops and “Ask the Expert” sessions, delivering actionable guidance on energy-saving practices and clean energy solutions.
• FAU Insights – “Technologies for a Solar World”: A hybrid lecture series open to all, where industry and academic experts discuss clean-energy technologies such as solar systems.
• Energy reports (monthly): The organizational units and departments receive monthly reports on energy consumption in FAU buildings. This is intended to raise awareness among users about saving energy and to identify technical problems.

These programmes foster knowledge sharing and community action to support energy efficiency and sustainability in the region.

FAU actively provides direct services to local industry to enhance energy efficiency and accelerate the transition to clean energy:

• Through the Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research (ZAE Bavaria), FAU undertakes applied industrial research in areas such as energy-efficient processes, energy-optimized buildings, and renewable energy systems, working directly with companies of all sizes.
• The Department of Chemical and Bioengineering (CBI) supports industrial partners through research and development in process optimization, circular economy, and energy-efficient industrial applications.
• As part of the Green Factory Bavaria initiative, FAU collaborates with industry leaders (e.g., Bosch and Siemens) to develop, demonstrate, and disseminate energy-autonomous factory solutions, serving as a model for energy-efficient production across sectors.

In 2024, researchers from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and the Energy Campus Nuremberg (EnCN) actively informed and supported government and industry representatives in the field of clean energy and energy-efficient technologies.

During the visit of the Government of Middle Franconia, FAU scientists presented current research trends in energy storage, grid integration, and renewable energy conversion, contributing expert knowledge to regional policy discussions on the energy transition.

In a separate event, the German Wind Energy Association (Bundesverband WindEnergie) visited the EnCN to explore innovative low-carbon technologies, including advanced energy storage systems and liquid organic hydrogen carriers. The exchange fostered dialogue on future directions for clean energy policy and technology implementation in Germany.

Through these initiatives, FAU and EnCN actively inform and support policy development for clean and energy-efficient technologies, strengthening the connection between scientific research and evidence-based decision-making for a sustainable energy future.