Production and Storage of Hydrogen from Biogenic Residues and Waste Materials
The project InnoTeam Bio2H2 aims to develop a new technology for the production and storage of hydrogen from biogenic residues and waste materials. We are working on a thermochemical conversion route that enables the generation of hydrogen from sewage sludge and other biogenic residues and wastes.
Challenge: The main challenge is to develop an efficient and cost-effective method for hydrogen production from biogenic residues and waste materials. The resulting syngas must then be used for indirect hydrogen storage in iron-based storage systems. This requires close collaboration across different disciplines such as chemistry, thermodynamics, and materials science.
Our Project: This interdisciplinary research project focuses on developing a thermochemical conversion route to produce hydrogen-rich syngas from biogenic residues and waste materials. We are working on a process that allows the gasification of sewage sludge and other biogenic residues and the subsequent use of the produced syngas for indirect hydrogen storage in iron-based systems. Additional valuable materials such as phosphorus are also to be recovered.
The project includes the identification of a suitable thermochemical conversion route, the development of a process for gas cleaning and syngas utilization, the advancement of an iron-based storage system, as well as experiments and simulations to optimize process efficiency and cost.
Through close collaboration across disciplines and with our project partners, we aim to develop an efficient and market-ready process for the production and storage of hydrogen from biogenic residues and waste materials.
Partners: DBI-Virtuhcon GmbH, AMBARtec AG, MiViA GmbH
Funding: ESF Plus / SAB, 100756653
Duration: 02/2025 – 01/2027
Advanced materials engineering for arc plasma-assisted production of hydrogen-containing syngas for clean energy utilization
Challenge: Development of advanced electrode materials with high mechanical and chemical resistance to reduce the erosion of the electrodes under the influence of the arc and reactive gases. Furthermore, new electrode geometries with a monolithic three-dimensional structure are being developed and manufactured using additive processes in order to achieve better heat transfer during water cooling of the electrodes and to minimise thermally induced degradation of the electrodes.
Our project: Development of advanced electrode materials with high mechanical and chemical resistance to reduce electrode erosion under the influence of the arc and reactive gases. Furthermore, new electrode geometries with monolithic three-dimensional structures are being developed and manufactured using additive manufacturing processes in order to achieve better heat transfer during water cooling of the electrodes and to minimize thermally induced degradation of the electrodes.
Partner: AGH University of Krakow, DTU Technical University of Denmark and IEC of TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Funding: The funding is provided from resources of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and from tax revenues on the basis of the budget adopted by the Saxon State Parliament. Saxon Development Bank, application number 100724739.
Duration: 09/2024 – 08/2027
Energy efficient coupling of high-pressure gasification of biogenic sediments with green hydrogen for cost-efficient production of kerosene
Challenge: An important role in reducing CO2 emissions from air transport will be played by sustainably produced aviation fuels, known as SAF (sustainable aviation fuel). Biogenic sediments (dead algae and plankton) in seas and inland waters can be used as a cost-effective feedstock for SAF production. During their growth, algae and plankton absorb CO2 from the air, which is ultimately deposited as organic carbon in the sediment sludge. Instead of allowing climate-damaging gases (CO2 and methane) to escape again through uncontrolled sediment decomposition, the use of biogenic sediments for SAF production allows the organic carbon to be bound and utilized in the aviation fuel, thereby creating a closed CO2 cycle.
Our project: In this joint research project, a new process for producing aviation fuels from biogenic sediments is being tested. For this purpose, a company and a university from Saxony have joined forces with partners from Sweden and the Czech Republic. The process combines synthesis gas generation from processed biogenic sediments with subsequent use of the synthesis gas in a multi-stage synthesis process. TU Bergakademie Freiberg is investigating the production of long-chain olefins from methanol/DME mixtures in order to assess the influence of the feedstock composition on the yield and quality of the aviation fuels produced and to enable the integration of the synthesis process into the overall process chain.
Partners: KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, Sweden; H&O Development AB, Sweden; Teknikmarknad AB, Sweden; CAC ENGINEERING GmbH, Germany; IEC of TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany; University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Czech Republic
Funding: Sächsische Aufbaubank/European Regional Development Fund, FKZ 100782673
Duration: 12/2025 – 07/2028
InnoTeam InnoSynfuels
The DBI-Virtuhcon GmbH is participating in the project InnoSynfuels, an initiative with the goal of developing innovative processes for the production of synthetic fuels from CO₂ and H₂.
The project has a duration of two years (2020–2022) and is funded by the European Social Fund and the Free State of Saxony within the framework of the InnoTeam directive.
Funded by:
