Robert Steinberger-Wilckens studied Physics in Germany in Hannover, Bremen (specialising in renewable energy) and Oldenburg (adding building physics). He obtained his masters degree (Diplom) in 1986 on heat transfer in and simulation of passive solar buildings. He received his PhD degree from Carl-von-Ossietzky University (Oldenburg) in 1993 on coupling of geographically dispersed renewable electricity generation to electricity grids. This was worldwide the first scientific analysis of the effect of integrating large scale renewable energy sources to the mains grid.
Robert started working as a building physics consultant to architects from 1982 and on programming mass spectroscopy high speed data acquisition systems from 1985 to 1987. He founded engineering consultancy PLANET (Planungsgruppe Energie und Technik) in 1985 in Oldenburg, Germany (with 4 partners) as a spin-out from University of Oldenburg. When returning from his PhD studies he became senior manager from 1993, and since has performed a large variety of projects in the areas of energy efficient building technology; district heating; water management; building quality certification; sustainable building, energy, and water resources planning; solar and wind energy; biomass; complex energy system design; various R&D projects; electric vehicle technology and charging infrastructure; hydrogen (mobile and stationary applications) and hydrogen technology development (filling stations and vehicles).
He was appointed project manager (SOFC) Fuel Cells with Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany, from Feb. 2002 to Jan. 2012 (5 participating institutes, 85 staff, topical budget approx. 12 Mio. € p.a.).
From 1 Feb. 2012 he has held the position of Chair for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research at the School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK. He is also the director of the Centre of Doctoral Training in Fuel Cells and their Fuels, and heads the Centre of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research in the School.
RSW’s skill set and professional experience covers the areas of:
• energy efficient building technology and solar architecture,
• district heating,
• building quality certification & sustainable building,
• energy, and water resources planning; fresh and waste water management,
• solar and wind energy; biomass,
• complex energy system design,
• R&D projects; proposal development; consortium management,
• hydrogen applications (mobile and stationary, industry)
• hydrogen infrastructure development (filling stations and distribution),
• hydrogen production,
• synthetic fuels and Power2Gas technologies,
• electric vehicle technology and charging infrastructure,
• hybrid (battery-fuel cell) electric vehicles,
• fuel cell and electrolyser materials (low and high temperature),
• fuel cell and electrolyser degradation,
• socio-economic, economic, and environmental analysis.