We are a climate innovation Think Tank
We exist to close the remaining innovation gaps to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. To reach this objective, we accelerate innovation in critical industries – such as cement, aviation, or shipping – where sustainable solutions are still in very early stages. We urge policy-makers to intensify and better prioritize their R&D activities. Moreover, we initiate and actively drive high-level research consortia on critical technologies for these neglected technological sectors.
We are based in Germany, operating with a global impact. We focus on high-impact R&D, targeting technologies that carry the potential to drive down greenhouse gas
emissions massively. We build on a strong network of experts that contribute their knowledge to our projects, analyses, events, publications, and workshops.
Our Mission
More than 50% of the technological innovations required to reach net zero by 2050 still need to be developed. It is crucial to start development now, as cleantech has challenging innovation stages and large-scale deployment has long ramp-up times.
We tackle the toughest problems: we push R&D in areas where decarbonization faces the highest hurdles.
We go for scale: we target those R&D areas that have the highest potential to decrease emissions.
We are implementation-oriented: we verify our assumptions on scaling technology on the ground.
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Team members
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Different nationalities
How We Work
We exist to close the remaining innovation gaps in climate technology. This is how we work:
Advocacy
R&D
At Future Cleantech Architects, we believe that cleantech can only be effectively advanced through a holistic approach. Fundamental changes will only be achieved if decision-makers from different disciplines come together and address the challenges and requirements of innovative technological solutions. We see ourselves as facilitators of this exchange and strive to provide decision-makers with the necessary facts to make informed decisions. To achieve this, we address decision-makers from different angles.
Before founding the think tank Future Cleantech Architects, Peter Schniering has worked on accelerating cleantech innovation ever since completing a PhD on “Climate Policy and Technology” at Bonn University, Germany.
He served as consultant to both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat in Bonn and the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, working on topics from hydrogen infrastructure to carbon capture and storage. Upon completing the Carlo-Schmid-Fellowship Program by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, he joined Roland Berger, a leading European strategy consulting firm. His work with utilities and technology providers across Europe focused on the cost side (LCoE) and scalability of cleantech.
During the past years, Dr. Schniering served as Advisory Board Member to the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Energy Innovation Panel and as Evaluation Board Member to the Forum’s Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund (SEIF). He has been supporting the expert panel of the Solar Impulse Foundation since 2018. In 2022, he was awarded membership in the Futurity Fellows cohort by BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and is a member of the foundation’s Global Responsible Leaders network. In 2024, he was appointed as third-party expert on transformational technologies by the German federal government.
Dr. Schniering continues to consult a family-run SME company that he used to co-run, gives lectures on cleantech, and occasionally supports other non-profit organizations in strategic matters.
At Future Cleantech Architects, we have taken a number of steps in our efforts to be transparent in achieving high-impact leverage to drive cleantech. Please find an overview of our memberships and databases with which we are registered below:
Our advisory board develops the key strategic guidelines for our work. This includes assisting with agenda setting and personnel development, providing insight in their specific areas of expertise, contributing to FCA in-depth analyses on various innovation and cleantech related topics, as well as serving as speakers and panel members at FCA events.
João Saint-Aubyn
Strategy | Restructuring Professional at Power and Renewables Expert
Madrid, Spain
Thekla von Bülow
Project Leader Commissioned Projects at Aurora Energy Research GmbH
Berlin, Germany
Joanna Hubbard
CEO and Co-Founder at Electron UK
London, United Kingdom
Dr. Jan Huckfeldt
CCO at Climeworks
Key Expertise: Technology Scaling | Marketing | Brand Building
Nadine Michalske
Co-Founder at Klima.Metrix
Key Expertise: Digital Technology | Brand Strategy | Emissions Accounting
Young-jin Choi
Head of Research Impact Investing at PHINEO gAG
Key Expertise: Impact Investing | Decarbonization
Dr. Martin Roeb
Group Leader at Institute of Solar Research / Solar Chemical Engineering
Cologne, Germany
Martin Hoyer
Energy & Utilities at Roland Berger | Strategy Consulting
Hamburg, Germany
Vanessa Völkel
Investment and technology promotion expert at United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Key Expertise: International Cleantech Projects | Cross-Border Consortia
Fabian Sacharowitz
Investment Director at EIT InnoEnergy
EIT InnoEnergy
Michael Schmidt
Investment and technology promotion expert at United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Key Expertise: International Cleantech Projects | Cross-Border Consortia
Stephan Schwahlen
Founder at legacies.now
Munich, Germany
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Eichel
Institute Director | Institute of Energy and Climate Research at Forschungszentrum Jülich
Jülich, Germany
Johannes Lohmann
Executive Director at Pollination
Key Expertise: Global advisory and investment on climate innovation
Sven Meier
Director of Digital Transformation at Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW)
Key Expertise: New Business Models | Artificial Intelligence | Digitization
Christian Sander
Lead Blockchain & DLT at Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW)
Key Expertise: Distributed-Ledger Technologies | Integration of DER
Dr. Henrik von Storch
Team Lead GoGreen / Communications & Sustainability Strategy at Deutsche Post / DHL Group (DP/DHL)
Key Expertise: Renewables and Mobility | Logistics
Nico Köllner
Director Business Development at Investa Holding GmbH
Key Expertise: Utilities Business Cases | Financing Activity in Renewables
Claudius Schaufler
Smart City Expert at Bechtle Systemhaus Holding AG
Key Expertise: Smart Cities | Urban Foresight | Transformation Research
Camel Makhloufi
Chief Operating Officer at GravitHy
Key Expertise: Hydrogen and Other Carriers | CO2 Capture from Thermal Power Plants
Carina Krastel
Managing Director at EGHAC | EIT InnoEnergy
Key Expertise: Sustainable Energy | Air Quality | Innovation