One focus of the work of the Future Energy and Industry Systems Division is the so-called "low-carbon technologies". Key technology-oriented climate protection strategies are identified and undergo (comparative) multi-criteria analyses and assessments.

Especially in the field of energy systems, not only are technological and economic aspects relevant from a system perspective but also various socio-ecological factors like social acceptance, environmental compatibility, resource limits and accuracy of fit.
Examples include new energy technologies, alternative propulsion technologies and hydrogen technologies that are assessed individually or in relation to the whole energy and transport system in Germany. Other research fields include the contribution carbon capture and storage (CCS) to mitigating climate change in Germany and worldwide as well as low-carbon technologies in the energy intensive industry in regard to their conditions for success and possible policy actions when brought to market.