Sibylle Braungardt

Dr. Sibylle Braungardt is a Senior Researcher and Group Leader in the Energy & Climate Protection Division at the Öko-Institut e.V. in Freiburg, Germany. She specializes in energy policy, climate protection strategies, and the decarbonization of heating systems. Her work focuses on transitioning energy systems toward sustainability, particularly in the building sector and renewable energy integration.

Education & Professional Experience:

• Since 2017: Senior Researcher at Öko-Institut e.V., leading projects on heat transition and energy efficiency.
• 2013–2017: Research Associate at Fraunhofer ISI, analyzing energy markets and policy.
• 2006–2011: PhD in Physics at ICFO (Barcelona), followed by postdoctoral research in photonics.
• 2008–2011: Master's in Environmental Sciences from Fernuniversität Hagen.

Research Focus: Braungardt’s research bridges technical, policy, and social dimensions of climate action. She develops scenarios for energy system decarbonization, evaluates policy measures (e.g., EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive), and assesses social aspects of building renovations. Her work emphasizes socially just transitions and the alignment of energy infrastructure with net-zero goals.

Key Projects:

• National implementation of the EU Building Directive (EPBD) through interdisciplinary analysis.
• Analysis of funding mechanisms for energy-efficient building renovations targeting low-income households.
• Climate neutrality pathways for heat supply under the German Climate Protection Act.
• Support for EU member states in creating climate-social plans under the Technical Support Instrument.

Grants & Collaboration: Braungardt collaborates with EU institutions, national ministries (e.g., BMWK), and international stakeholders. Her work is funded by grants such as the European Commission’s Renewable Heating and Cooling Pathways project and the BMWK-funded Climate Protection Scenarios 2050.

Labs & Teams: She leads the Heat Transition & Efficiency team at Öko-Institut, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between climate scientists, legal experts, and policymakers.