Press

As a very sunny and windy country, Morocco is predestined to generate electricity from renewable energy sources. By applying Power-to-X (PtX), this electricity can then be used to produce synthetic fuels such as hydrogen, methane or ammonia in an almost carbon-neutral way. The growing demand for PtX means the Moroccan government’s interest in investing in this process is correspondingly high. A study by Fraunhofer ISI shows: Morocco could become an exporter of carbon-neutral energy sources and make a major contribution to achieving the targets set in the Paris Climate Agreement – if it is able to manage the risks associated with PtX.

On behalf of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Fraunhofer ISI, together with other institutes of the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research, has identified the most important future topics of applied research. In a foresight process, technological and societal developments were analysed with regard to their innovation potential and their relevance for applied research. Some spotlight topics such as geoengineering were discussed particularly controversially.

Fraunhofer ISI coordinated an international futures research team, which explored technical and social innovations that could radically change value chains in the coming years. The Radical Innovation Breakthrough Inquirer (RIBRI) report identified 100 potential innovation breakthroughs in fields such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics or biomedicine, and indicates how the EU can prepare for them.

Car bans for conventional drive trains are one possible measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve sustainability goals. The Fraunhofer ISI and the Simon Fraser University (Canada) have developed recommendations on how car bans could be implemented in a meaningful way.