January 14, 2026
Ulm City Council Visits Helmholtz Institute Ulm: Insights into the Energy Storage of the Future
Today, the members of the Ulm City Council visited the Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU) to learn firsthand about current developments in energy storage. Mayor Martin Ansbacher and Deputy Mayors Martin Bendel, Iris Mann, and Tim von Winning accepted the invitation to the renowned research institute.
HIU Director Professor Dr. Maximilian Fichtner opened the visit with a presentation entitled “Energy Storage of the Future – Hydrogen, E-Fuels, Batteries.” In his presentation, he highlighted key challenges and opportunities presented by modern energy storage technologies and demonstrated the role of battery research in ensuring a sustainable energy supply. The Ulm City Council members showed great interest in the subsequent discussion, engaging in a lively exchange about the presented technologies, their potential applications, and the significance of the HIU for Ulm as a center of science and innovation.
The local politicians showed particular interest in the discussion surrounding electric vehicles in urban areas. Job security at German automotive manufacturers and the impact of technological change on Ulm as a business location were also key topics of discussion.
The visit concluded with a tour of the institute’s laboratories. Guests gained detailed insights into the technical equipment, the research and analysis methods used, and the facilities at the HIU. The tour provided a vivid impression of the cutting-edge research being conducted in Ulm.
The visit underscored the close ties between city government and academia and highlighted the HIU’s contribution to the region’s future viability in the field of energy storage and battery technology.
All slides to Fichtner’s prsentation: https://hiu-batteries.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Presentation-Batterieforschung-Ulm_260114-2.pdf