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.

Future Cleantech Architects.

Science-based. Independent. Non-profit.

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
We advise decision-makers from the European Union and individual member states, as well as intergovernmental organizations
R&D
We focus on research in neglected, hard-to-abate sectors and initiate high-impact research consortia
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Meet the Founder

Dr. Peter Schniering

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.

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 renowned 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.

Dr. Schniering serves as Advisory Board Member to the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Energy Innovation Panel. He regularly publishes articles on energy innovation topics and has been supporting the expert panel of the Solar Impulse Foundation since 2018. At the World Economic Forum, he also served as Evaluation Board member to the Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund (SEIF).

In 2022, he was awarded membership in the Futurity Fellows cohort by BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and was subsequently invited to their global responsible leaders’ network.

Dr. Schniering is moreover part of an industrial SME’s management team supporting their strategy work and financial planning.

How we drive Cleantech 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.

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Organizational Body

Advisory Board

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. 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

Stephan Schwahlen

Founder at legacies.now

Munich, Germany

Fabian Sacharowitz

Investment Director at EIT InnoEnergy

EIT InnoEnergy

Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Eichel

Institute Director | Institute of Energy and Climate Research at Forschungszentrum Jülich

Jülich, Germany

Organizational Body

Expert Panel

The members of our expert panel are one of FCA’s most important sources of expertise and regularly contribute their knowledge to FCA projects, analyses, events, publications and workshops.

Vanessa Völkel

Investment and technology promotion expert at United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Key Expertise: 
International Cleantech Projects | Cross-Border Consortia

Michael Schmidt

Investment and technology promotion expert at United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Key Expertise:
 International Cleantech Projects | Cross-Border Consortia

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

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

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

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