In order to reduce emissions, it is planned that CO2 should be separated and further processed in the plastics industry. The CO2 will be bound in the long term and will replace crude oil, which as a raw material is in short supply. In this way, the nightmare climate killer can be used as a basis for sweet dreams. CO2 will be used as a raw material to produce mattresses.  more...

Researchers at the Technische Universität Darmstadt are hoping to discover emission-free ways of burning natural gas or coal. The technology is based on flame-free combustion. Prof. Dr. Bernd Epple, head of the department of energy systems and energy technology at the TU Darmstadt, explains the ECLAIR project. His team in the research partnership is investigating the “Emission Free Chemical Looping Coal Combustion Process”.  more...

Many small, decentralised power generators could replace conventional large-scale power plants. But how can wind, sun and bioenergy be integrated into the future power supply system? With the “Kombikraftwerk2”, researchers aim to show how power generation from 100 per cent renewable energies can be achieved and stabilised.  more...

Flexible in the use of fuels and in the energy output – that is how power plants are intended to supplement the energy system in future. Ideally, these will not only produce electricity and heat in accordance with demands but will also absorb surplus renewable electricity for intermediate storage, for example in order to produce synthetic fuels for vehicles. To ensure that such power plants are more profitable and efficient, a joint project is currently working on a specific aspect in the process: the gasifier, which until now has almost been a “black box” in terms of power plant research.  more...

At the Almería Solar Centre in Spain, a test plant for direct steam generation has commenced operation. Instead of thermal oil, water is heated in the receiver tubes in the parabolic troughs. This allows higher temperatures and saves on plant components. This year the scientists are testing the control system in the 3-megawatt plant.  more...

Across the world, the human lung is used as a model for filter technology. Researchers are producing synthetic membranes which, like the lung, capture CO₂. Polymer membranes are already being used in the industry for treating natural and biogas. A research team is currently studying their suitability for capturing CO₂ in the flue gas produced by power plants.  more...

Outside it is snowing and the Steag company´s Herne CHP plant is working at full blast. It supplies around 625,000 households with district heating and electricity. At the base of the coal-fired power station´s chimney shaft, the roughly nine-metre-high test plant for purifying flue gas is bathed in blue light. Here Creavis, Evonik´s strategic research and development unit, is testing new scrubbing liquids for capturing CO₂.  more...

Redeveloping an urban district represents not just an architectural challenge - the tenants behind the facades must also be taken into account. Those involved in the "Weingarten 2020" research project are aiming to meet both demands. With the involvement of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, they have created the first passive high-rise building in a district of Freiburg. A further important milestone was the optimisation of the energy supplies.  more...

Higher steam parameters in power plants enable energy conversion which is more efficient, with lower CO₂ levels. The next generation of power plants is designed to withstand steam temperatures of over 700 °C. This is not possible when standard materials are used. For this reason, researchers at the Mannheim power plant are now testing thick-walled components made of nickel alloys. The high temperature material test track is designed to pave the way towards building a pilot plant.   more...

Yesterday, the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) awarded the environment prize for the 20th time. German President Joachim Gauck presented the prize in the Gewandhaus hall in Leipzig to co-founder of SMA Solar Technology AG, Günther Cramer, and to the Freiburg researchers Dr. Andreas Bett from the Fraunhofer ISE and Hansjörg Lerchenmüller from Soitec Solar GmbH. In these times of crisis, the foundation aims to send a message through the award winners from the photovoltaic sector.  more...