Start-ups in the field of renewable energies play a central role in the implementation of the energy transition - but they face considerable challenges. A research team from the Institute for Entrepreneurship at the University of Münster, together with the Fraunhofer Research Fab Battery Cell FFB, has investigated which types of start-ups are particularly effective, which hurdles they have to overcome - and how investments in sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives can be translated into a measurable climate impact.

The results have now been published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

“Technology-oriented start-ups in the energy sector in particular make a key contribution to the sustainable transformation and effective means of combating climate change - for example through new battery technologies or intelligent control systems”

explains Prof. Dr. David Bendig, Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship at the University of Münster and Chairman of REACH Science.e.

“Start-ups open up new fields of innovation and drive economic growth by questioning traditional paradigms and using modern technologies in a targeted manner”

says Dr. Florian Degen, co-author of the study and Head of Strategy and Corporate Development at Fraunhofer FFB. Together with Linda Brüss, research associate at the institute, the research team identified key success factors: stable legal framework conditions, targeted funding programs, but also strategic partnerships and regional adaptability.

The systematic literature review is based on the analysis of over 2,600 scientific studies on entrepreneurial activity in the energy sector. The research team filtered out 142 of these for in-depth analysis.

“Our analysis shows that start-ups can play a transformative role not only economically, but also socially. However, this requires reliable signals for the future and a political framework that enables innovation in the energy sector - instead of putting the brakes on it”

emphasized Prof. Dr. David Bendig

To the original publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032125000103?via%3Dihub

Bendig, D., Brüss, L., & Degen, F. (2025). Entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector: A systematic literature review of types, characteristics, and sustainability impacts. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 212, 115337.

Contact us for further information:

Prof. Dr. David Bendig
Universität Münster
Institut für Entrepreneurship
Leonardo-Campus 9, 48149 Münster
E-Mail: dbendig@uni-muenster.de

Linda Brüss
Universität Münster
E-Mail: lbruess@uni-muenster.de