The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) operates two large-scale user facilities for Energy Materials Research, the BER II research reactor and the BESSY II synchrotron radiation source. BESSY II is Germany's soft X-ray light source. A continuous upgrade program sustains BESSY II's position at an international top level. Embedded in a broad user program, a major research emphasis at BESSY II is on the understanding and controlling of materials properties for energy applications. 

Examples will be presented covering in particular new analytical tools for research with soft X-rays. Recent and upcoming new capabilities for in-situ and operando characterization of energy materials are discussed and an outlook is given on new perspectives with a variable pulse length synchrotron radiation source (BESSY-VSR concept).