DESY publishes its second Sustainability Report
“What began as an idea has now become a driving force”
“Advancing ideas. Designing solutions.” – This is the title of DESY’s second Sustainability Report, which will be published at the beginning of December. DESY sustainability in action, presented in 36 pages: featuring intelligent ideas and concrete initiatives, notable achievements and robust figures. But above all it offers inspiring stories about the people on the research campus who are driving the sustainable projects and strategies. The reporting period: 2022–2024. The focus: sustainable research machines. Centre stage: DESY’s flagship project PETRA IV.
A sign for the future – in its second sustainability report, DESY picks up where the first left off, describing the interim goals that have been met and new projects for the future – undeterred by the global sense of crisis. “We are sticking to our sustainability strategy, especially in times of global political and economic uncertainty,” says Beate Heinemann, Chairperson of DESY’s Board of Directors, adding: “Having laid important foundations by up until 2022, we are now focusing on our energy-intensive large-scale research facilities and equipment. We want to demonstrate that scientific excellence and sustainability can reinforce one another.”
The Sustainability Stuff Unit, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in March 2024, is the driving force behind DESY’s greener future.
“Our achievements show that sustainability encourages innovation, rather than slowing it down,” says Denise Völker, head of the interdivisional staff unit. “Our biggest project – for my team too – is of course PETRA IV, our mega-machine. Embedding sustainability from the outset is the opportunity of a century – and a Herculean task.” DESY has already received international recognition for this. “We are being invited to give lectures on sustainable accelerator physics and to lead work packages in EU projects,” says Völker. The sustainability manager is certain that “DESY is not just a pioneer, but also a role model.”
As early as 2022, DESY demonstrated foresight in creating the globally unique position of Sustainability Officer for the large research facility it was planning, PETRA IV. The new report describes how she works and reveals the extent and scope of her activities. It also focuses on the scientist Heshmat Noei, who talks in an interview about sustainable achievements at the DESY NanoLab – from energy research to coronavirus research. The Sustainability Forum, which was founded in 2022, is a grassroots initiative in particle physics that encourages the conservation of resources and the reduction of emissions. The utilisation of waste heat at DESY is also featured once again. The implementation phase is now underway; in future, CO2 emissions from supplying heat will be reduced by 81 percent. “Team Waste Heat” tells its success story in the report. And because the culture of sustainability nurtured at DESY also includes social responsibility, the report presents Franziska Westerfeld, coordinator of the READY project, and her commitment to HR development.
In conclusion: When it comes to sustainability, DESY is thinking ahead – in terms of science, organisational structures and people. Beate Heinemann points out: “The new report shows that the vibrant culture of sustainability is the result of a real joint effort by everyone at DESY.” Denise Völker adds: “What began as an idea in March 2019 has now become a driving force. We didn’t just think ahead, we kept moving forward: consistently, creatively and with a noticeable impact.”
The new DESY sustainability report is available HERE