Accelerating sustainability

DESY’s timetable for PETRA IV takes sustainability into account early on, already including it in the planning stages. Because particle accelerators are not only brilliant large-scale research facilities; they also consume large amounts of electricity and critical materials, such as rare earth elements.

Guiding principle: Designing for sustainability

We all know how important it is to think and design things in terms of sustainability. It begins with the planning process and continues even beyond the finished product. Throughout a product’s life cycle, it is important to continuously monitor whether it is having the lowest possible impact on the environment and society, in other words to optimise the sustainability of its entire life cycle. This may sound obvious, but it has never been implemented more comprehensively when developing an X-ray source than in the case of PETRA IV. In the past, the main focus was on beam quality.

PETRA IV is different. The accelerator will produce extremely high-brilliance radiation while at the same time minimising its environmental footprint.

In this interview, Andrea Klumpp, the physicist responsible for sustainability at DESY PETRA IV, explains what this hinges on:

Cover page and double page from the DESY Sustainability Report

Guiding principle: Designing for sustainability

Comprehensive planning of the entire life cycle in terms of sustainability. Andrea Klumpp explains how this works, 

A blue quadrupole magnet with four copper coils

Electricity guzzler on a diet. New concept for the ring’s magnets

In the PETRA IV project, Wim Leemans is responsible for the construction of the particle accelerators. Here he explains the innovative magnet concept, which is all about protecting resources.

Pink electron clouds stick together in round bundles

Master of energy efficiency: Laser-plasma acceleration

For the first time in the world, laser plasma acceleration (LPA) is to be used to inject electrons into the PETRA IV storage ring. The new technology opens up an innovative approach to energy efficiency.

Drawing of a hall, the facades and the roof are greened with many plants.

Civil Construction and Infrastructure

An important component of sustainable construction is the optimisation of the resources used in civil engineering. DESY uses the German government's "Sustainable Building" assessment system and has also developed its own guidelines.

"Sustainability is in our DNA. The technologies being developed at our X-ray sources, in collaboration with teams of researchers from all over the world, can improve our everyday lives in sustainable ways: high-performance solar cells and batteries, environmentally friendly materials and innovative medicines."
DESY’s Sustainability Officer Denise Völker
Dr. Denise Völker DESY’s Sustainability Officer

“To achieve this, it’s worth resorting to unusual resources and large amounts of energy, which we use as efficiently and sustainably as possible.”

Portrait of Heidrun Hillen
Press and Media / Communication

Heidrun Hillen

I am happy to answer your questions about PETRA IV.

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