At the end of August, Susan Wilms returned as Managing Director of IKEM, supported by Deputy Director Matthias Hartwig.

Our former Managing Director Judith Schäfer-Gendrisch is embarking on a sabbatical. She will spend the next three years in Buenos Aires with her family – while continuing to collaborate with IKEM on a doctoral project and initiating climate projects locally.

We warmly thank Judith for her outstanding work to date and wish her all the best for her time in Argentina. We look forward to seeing her again soon!

On 16 October 2025, we will gather experts from research, industry and politics to take stock of progress: Where does the hydrogen economy stand today? And what steps must be taken to ensure that hydrogen and its derivatives become the backbone of a climate-neutral energy system?

The preliminary programme and information on registration can be found on our website.

This report summarises the results of the LNG2Hydrogen project on the long-term conversion of LNG terminals for hydrogen use and its transport vectors. The findings show that multi-use terminals can lower investment costs, accelerate permitting procedures and increase operational safety. The report also stresses that open, flexible planning is essential to meet global energy and climate challenges.

A new study from our E-CORE project analyses the potential of ERS infrastructure along two major freight corridors from the Port of Rotterdam to Germany and Belgium. Results indicate that, under favourable conditions, investments in ERS can be more cost-efficient for society than a purely battery-electric approach – with further benefits such as smaller batteries in lorries and shorter charging times.

10 September | Hosted by CIGRE. IKEM experts Leonie Durschang and Simon Großmann will discuss key challenges in transmission grid planning.

11 September | Practical neighbourhood solutions for climate-friendly heating networks, with insights from Megawatt and Green Urban Energy.

22–23 September | The European Association of Climate Law hosts an international conference on current developments and future challenges in climate law. Registration is open until mid-September – a few spaces remain.

• 24 September | IKEM’s Anika Nicolaas Ponder will discuss opportunities of the energy transition for rural areas.

24 September | IKEM Managing Director Susan Wilms speaks on the role of renewable gases in the energy transition.

7–8 October | Comprehensive overview of the hydrogen economy. IKEM’s Leandra Schulz contributes expertise on regulation.

In mid-August, an interdisciplinary seminar led by IKEM Director Prof. Dr. Rodi concluded with a working week on the island of Hiddensee. Offered at the University of Greifswald for the second time, the course is closely linked to IKEM’s work with the Interdisciplinary Research Centre Baltic Sea Region (IFZO).

Contributions include:

• Angela van der Berg: Beyond Technocracy: Climate Justice through Transformative Constitutionalism in South Africa

• Claudio Franzius: Climate Organisation Law

• Jelena Bäumler: The Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS): A Path to the Future?

• Walter Frenz: EU Climate Target for 2040: The Commission’s Proposal of 2 July 2025

• Sophie Kamenz: OLG Hamm: Global Climate Impacts and National Courts – Possibilities and Limits of Civil Liability for CO₂ Emitters

• Case Law: OLG Hamm, 28.05.2025 – 5 U 15/17: Climate case against RWE dismissed.

Are you researching legal aspects of climate change and interested in publishing your work? Contact the editorial team: klimr@ikem.de.

Join the IKEM team! We are currently recruiting:

• Legal trainees
• Interns

We also offer positions for doctoral researchers.

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