Falko Ueckerdt

Research group:

Our group conducts research and provides science-based policy advice on transforming energy systems toward climate neutrality. We investigate technological and policy pathways for developing flexible, digital, and renewable-based energy systems. A central focus of our work is the role of direct electrification, hydrogen, and e-fuels across key sectors such as transport, buildings, and industry. 

We pay particular attention to how energy-intensive industries – especially steel and chemical production – can transform and remain competitive amid global structural change, shifting trade dynamics, and increasing geopolitical fragmentation. 

Methodologically, we employ computational tools that bridge global scope with local detail. We combine global transformation pathways (e.g., based on the REMIND model maintained at PIK Potsdam) and global material flow analysis (flodym, REMIND-MFA) with detailed locational assessments of production costs and competitiveness (building on PyPSA maintained at TU Berlin and techno-economic analysis within the POSTED framework).

Short bio:

Falko Ueckerdt is a Full Professor of Energy Transition and Climate Futures at IT:U and a Guest Researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). 

Previously, he served as Deputy Head of the Energy Transition Lab (2025) and Team Lead for Hydrogen and Industry Transformation (2019–2024) at PIK. He is also a contributing author to two major IPCC reports (SRREN 2011 and AR6 2022). 

Through his work in expert groups and national, EU, and international research projects, Falko Ueckerdt advises policy makers and international organizations such as the EU Commission, IEA and OECD-ITF. 

Earlier in his career, he was Managing Director of the Australian-German Energy Transition Hub (2017–2020) and a Guest Researcher at the Hanley Sustainability Institute, University of Dayton, Ohio (2016). He also worked on international energy planning for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) (2014–2015) and on e-mobility for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) (2009). 

Falko Ueckerdt studied Physics (major) and Economics (minor) at Humboldt University Berlin, and completed his PhD at PIK on renewable energy system integration, supervised by Ottmar Edenhofer, Bob Brecha, and Gunnar Luderer. 

“Clarity in thought, calm in listening, structure in collaboration – that’s how we learn and create together”.

Falko Ueckerdt