Mannheim, March 24, 2025 - A pioneering innovation from Mannheim is setting new standards in the production of sustainable fuel. For the first time, sustainable marine fuel is being produced from wastewater and electricity in a globally unique plant. Behind it is a consortium consisting of the climate technology start-up ICODOS GmbH, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Eigenbetrieb Stadtentwässerung (EBS) Mannheim. This pioneering project utilizes the immense potential of wastewater treatment plants - there are around 9,000 of them in Germany alone, and the number is estimated at up to 75,000 at EU level.

Detailed caption: Joint opening of the “Mannheim 001” plant with (from left to right) David Strittmatter, Managing Director and co-founder of ICODOS; Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister; Alexander Mauritz, Head of Municipal Wastewater Management; Dr. Fracisco Vidal Vázquez, Managing Director and co-founder of ICODOS; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Roland Dittmeyer (IMVT, KIT); KIT Vice President Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth.

Press Release: a) ICODOS, b) Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs, c) KIT

From January 12 to 17, 2025, the future of sustainable energy was explored in Punta Arenas, Chile, with a focus on green hydrogen and its derivatives such as methanol, ammonia and hydrocarbons. 

These products, derived from renewable energy sources, are crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in hard-to-electrify applications worldwide. 

The event started with warm welcome speeches from the organizing institutions. Representatives from local authorities provided valuable insights into the regional energy transition, offering both local and national perspectives on developments in the Magallanes region and across Chile.

Participants had the opportunity to engage in keynote presentations, research discussions, and interactive workshops to address the challenges and opportunities along the value chain of international power-to-x projects in the context of the global energy transition. Collaboration between Chile and Germany can contribute significantly to unlocking the potential of renewable power and creating sustainable solutions for future generations. 

The third day covered the Power-to-X value chain, focusing on grid integration, derivatives, and decentralized energy solutions. These topics were presented by representatives from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Chile.

After the presentations, students began their work with a round of project pitches. Each participant who pitched received a glass bottle sponsored by Kopernikus.

The event featured active participation from startups such as Spark e-Fuels, Phlair, and Reborn, alongside industry contributions from Ineratec, Ventus, Y-TEC, NeoZet, Neuman-Esser, offering a dynamic mix of innovative and commercial perspectives on energy solutions.

A key moment occurred on the fourth day, when participants visited the Haru Oni (HIF) plant for an in-depth tour of the hydrogen production facilities. The day concluded with dinners sponsored by ABB and Gasco Magallanes and a nature excursion to Fort Bulnes National Park, adding a social and environmental dimension to the experience.

During the final days, participants engaged in two breakout sessions to discuss key success factors for Power-to-X (PtX) projects. These sessions included presentations and in-depth discussions. The exchange of diverse mentalities and perspectives enriched critical thinking, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in PtX initiatives and international collaboration.

Attendees had the unique opportunity to explore the technology and innovation landscape, network, and experience the stunning natural beauty of Patagonia.

One of the EU’s goals is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. On our way there, the RISEnergy (stands for: Research Infrastructure Services for Renewable Energy) project aims to accelerate the development of innovations for the use of renewable energy sources and the commercialization of the respective technologies. Above all, access of researchers and companies to research infrastructures in European and non-European countries will be facilitated. The project coordinated by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will start on March 1, 2024. RISEnergy will be funded by the European Commission with about EUR 14.5 million for a duration of four and a half years.

RISEnergy will create  a European ecosystem covering all areas of renewable energy technologies. We want to push the development of promising technologies from the laboratory level to industrial maturity. Joint research infrastructure projects have already been launched for certain technologies, but RISEnergy is the first project of this dimension in Europe that covers all areas of renewable energy technologies: Photovoltaics, Concentrated Solar Power, Hydrogen, Biofuels, Wind Energy, OceanEnergy, as well as Integrated Grids, Energy Storage, Materials Research, Information and Communication Technologies.

Consortium of Institutions from 22 Countries 

The RISEnergy consortium consists of 69 technology institutes, universities, and industry partners from 22 countries. The partners contribute with their infrastructures, know-how, or provide organizational support. 

Researchers Can Apply

Within the framework of RISEnergy, 84 research infrastructures from 19 European countries, the USA, Canada, and Japan will open their facilities to external researchers and company developers, who can apply for access. An expert committee will decide. If approved, RISEnergy will cover the costs of the research facility as well as travel and accommodation expenses. Most of the project budget will be used for this purpose.

The Hydrogen Researcher

"The energy of tomorrow is water, which has been broken down by electric current. The elements of water broken down in this way, hydrogen and oxygen, will secure the Earth’s energy supply far into the future”. For Jules Verne, this was a vision he wrote down in his 1875 novel "The Mysterious Island." Dr. Svetlana Korneychuk, however, likes to quote the French author because his vision is closer to reality today than ever before. With her work at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the researcher contributes to making hydrogen as an energy carrier affordable and suitable for everyday use.

The new graduate school ENZo offers the next generation of young researchers the opportunity to apply interdisciplinary knowledge in application-oriented projects that can visibly contribute to the transformation of the energy system.
Future researchers are characterized not only by their desire to understand how developments and technologies can be embedded in the overall context of the energy system, but also by their desire to contribute to its sustainable design. MTET themes such as

• Renewable Energy,
• Sector Coupling Industry - Electricity, Heat, Chemical Energy (Sources), and
• Circular Economy - Use of Raw Materials and Energy

are holisticly combined in the "Real World Projects" with the important viewpoints and aspects such as

• Machine Learning and Digital Tools
• Technoeconomics Assessment, Interaction with Society, Acceptance and Social Developments.

Embedded in the manifold technological and scientific possibilities at the KIT Energy Center, ENZo creates a unique development environment for PhD students.