Market liberalization and concerns about climate change has stimulated increased use of distributed power sources such as combined heat and power and renewable energy systems. To cope with the volatility and the wide spread use of alternative power supplies and storage systems, novel concepts for the grid integration, automation and control is needed. In addition, energy efficiency and demand side management are enabling technologies to master the balance between supply and demand. Influencing the energy consumption and production habits of prosumers, requires detailed analysis to estimate the resulting effects on the future energy system. Consequently, energy research must not only concentrate on solutions of individual technical problems. It is equally important to devise comprehensive interdisciplinary approaches to and studies of complex questions. The institutes at the E.ON Energy Research Center, which belong to different RWTH faculties, work interdisciplinary in the field of electrical engineering, information and communication engineering, computer science, business and economics, mechanical engineering, as well as georesources and materials science. The energy research center at RWTH Aachen University is the result of a public-private partnership between industry and the scientific community. As one of the largest energy companies in Europe, E.ON SE has come together with the internationally renowned RWTH Aachen University in order to realize this unique project. Main target is to research the potentials of energy savings, energy efficiency and sustainable energy supplies. The management of E.ON ERC, together with its 125 scientists and engineering staff, enlists considerable funds for research projects, not only from national and international public research funding programs, but also through cooperation with industrial partners and companies.