Research

The SOLMET project aims to develop an innovative technology for the direct conversion of solar energy into biomethane (CH₄), using only CO₂ and water as feedstocks. This approach creates a direct ‘solar-to-gas’ process that bypasses the conventional, loss-prone ‘solar-to-power’ and ‘power-to-gas’ methods. Current power-to-gas systems face significant challenges in terms of efficiency, scalability and sustainability. Conventional biomethanation relies on hydrogen production via electrolysis, which entails high investment and operating costs, particularly for smaller plants. The assumption that low-cost ‘surplus energy’ is available to power electrolysers often proves to be incorrect in practice. Furthermore, existing systems suffer from the short service life of the electrodes, which degrade rapidly under sunlight, thereby increasing maintenance costs and compromising stability. Photocatalytic processes for methane production have so far received little attention and have not yet been scaled up beyond the laboratory level. The main objective of SOLMET is to develop and validate an efficient, cost-effective and sustainable system for the production of biofuels and the storage of renewable energy. At the heart of the innovation lies a unique hybrid system that combines photocatalysis with methanogenic archaea. Instead of expensive electrolysis, an integrated photo-bioelectrochemical system is being developed. A key innovative step is the use of durable and cost-effective materials.

Plastics make an indispensable contribution to human progress in virtually every aspect of life, such as in modern medicine, where they have led to an unprecedented improvement in quality of life and life expectancy. However, this progress comes at a high cost in terms of the exploitation of fossil resources and environmental pollution. The use of renewable raw materials as a substitute for synthetic polymers plays a major role in the transition toward sustainable materials and environmentally friendly solutions. In some emerging fields, such as 3D printing via stereolithography, the use of both sustainable materials and composite materials is severely limited. Furthermore, the reprocessing and recycling of these materials involve significant difficulties and considerable effort. This project aims to explore possibilities for designing 3D-printable composite materials based on sustainable resources that can be degraded through “degradation on demand” triggered by the use of chemical and/or enzymatic agents and subsequently repurposed for further material use. Based on vinyl ester monomers—a class of substances similar to (meth)acrylates but with significantly lower toxicity and inherently cleavable groups—cellulose and chitin nanofibrils will be chemically and/or enzymatically modified to enable shaping via high-resolution 3D printing (stereolithography). By combining suitable monomers and modifications, the compatibility of the formulations is ensured, and by selecting appropriate reinforcing materials, mechanical performance is achieved that can compete with conventional synthetic 3D printing materials. At the end of their service life, the basic building blocks can be recovered through the cleavage of functional groups and reused, which dramatically reduces the amount of waste generated.

Europe imports 74% of the protein feed it needs and produces nitrogen fertiliser using the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. At the same time, large quantities of bound nitrogen are eliminated through combustion or in sewage treatment plants. Today, insects and microorganisms are used to recycle waste streams. The aim of the project is to develop an innovative process for the utilisation of organic waste fractions by cockroaches supported by an AI-assisted system. The BonsAI project has the following objectives: 1. Development of an AI-controlled bioconversion technology for the fully automated separation of organic and inorganic waste fractions with a separation efficiency of ≥ 95% and a bioconversion rate/biomass utilisation rate of ≥ 90% of the organic input 2. Scaling from laboratory scale (1 m³) to pilot plant level (10 m³) with proof of industrial suitability through continuous operation for ≥ 6 months 3. Achieving a throughput of 50 kg of organic matter/day (in the 10 m³ plant) 4. Development of new recycling products with defined quality standards: cockroach protein hydrolysates (≥ 90% protein content), hygienised feed (NPK content according to EU fertiliser regulation) and biogas co-substrates (≥ 70% of theoretical methane yield)