Goethe Plaque for Kassel-based energy researcher Prof. Dr. Werner Kleinkauf

Prof. Dr. Werner Kleinkauf has dedicated his working life to renewable energies: He turned to wind and solar energy as early as the 1970s, and later became one of the founding fathers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE in Kassel. For his commitment to science as a researcher, benefactor and entrepreneur, he was honored today at a ceremony at the University of Kassel: Science Minister Angela Dorn presented him with the Goethe Plaque, the highest award given by the Hessian Ministry of Science and the Arts.  

Science Minister Angela Dorn: "The energy transition, the changeover to sustainable energy systems that protect the climate and the environment, is a question for mankind. Prof. Dr. Werner Kleinkauf has made the work on this his life's work and, as a pioneer of the energy transition, has done society a great service. His application-oriented approach is remarkable: He also keeps an eye on strategies for implementing new technologies. Only in this way can new developments develop a social impact, can things be made to work. I warmly congratulate Prof. Werner Kleinkauf on receiving the Goethe Plaque."  

Prof. Dr. Werner Kleinkauf, born in 1939, studied electrical engineering in Braunschweig. At the German Aerospace Center DLR, he headed the "Program for Energy Supply." Later, as a professor of energy electronics at the University of Kassel, he founded the department of "Electrical Energy Supply Systems" and worked on projects for the use of wind and solar energy. Contrary to the political majority, which relied on nuclear power and coal, he was one of the first to recognize the potential of renewable energies.   

Kleinkauf was also successful in business terms: He co-founded a company for measurement, control and regulation systems for wind and solar plants. With his foundation, he promotes the research and dissemination of sustainable energy systems. He is also the founding father of today's Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE. The Kassel-based institute researches the question of how the transition to sustainable energy systems can succeed.   

"To achieve the energy transition, we need forward-looking research that continuously advances technology. The Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System IEE is working on these important questions of our time. A new building for 320 workplaces is currently being constructed. The state of Hesse, along with the federal government, is bearing half of the construction costs. The institute, whose founding father is Prof. Dr. Kleinkauf, will therefore continue to grow," concluded Science Minister Angela Dorn.  

Background:
Since 1949, the Goethe Plaque has been awarded to individuals whose work has promoted and shaped the arts and culture of the state. Previous recipients include Prof. Dr. Heiner Boehnck, Artistic Director of the Rheingau Literature Festival, Helen Bonzel, founder of the Fulda Children's Academy, and former Städel Director Max Hollein.