Partners
The consortium
The consortium covers the technical work through extensive contributions from partners and Principal Investigators (PI’s) with a strong back-ground in biomass gasification and biofuel syntheses, namely BOKU University Vienna, National Technical University of Athens, University Erlangen-Nürnberg. The highly interdisciplinary consortium profits from long-grown connections and exploits, transfers and combines the technical research with socioeconomic and legal science to derive a comprehensive picture of the technology’s environmental impacts and economic prospects.
Project Coordinator: The research activities of the Chair of Energy Process Engineering (EVT) at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg focus on three areas: “Combustion & Gasification”, “2nd Generation Fuels & Fuel Cells” and “Energy Systems & Energy Economy”. The individual projects of these topic areas deal with the three major challenges of sustainability, decentralisation and flexibilisation of a future energy supply. The reduction of CO2 emissions, the sector coupling between electrical grid and gas grid and the flexibilisation of generating plants are crucial factors here.
The topics and challenges mentioned above are investigated experimentally as well as simulation-based at EVT. The laboratory facilities (including catalytic and biological methanation, the heat pipe reformer and a SOFC / SOEC test rig) are designed for flexible operation on a scale of a few watts up to 100 kW. The simulation-based work includes not only the calculation of cyclic processes (ASPEN, IPSEpro) but also CFD simulations (Fluent) and agent-based modelling (AnyLogic, Simile).
The topics and challenges mentioned above are investigated experimentally as well as simulation-based at EVT. The laboratory facilities (including catalytic and biological methanation, the heat pipe reformer and a SOFC / SOEC test rig) are designed for flexible operation on a scale of a few watts up to 100 kW. The simulation-based work includes not only the calculation of cyclic processes (ASPEN, IPSEpro) but also CFD simulations (Fluent) and agent-based modelling (AnyLogic, Simile).
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Karl
Chair Holder, Project Coordinator
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg
Chair of Energy Process Engineering
Prof. Dr. Katharina Herkendell
Assistant Professor
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg
Chair of Energy Process Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Peter Treiber
Head of Working Group and Research Scientist
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg
Chair of Energy Process Engineering
Jakob Müller, M. Sc.
Research Scientist, Project Management and Chemical Catalytic Methanation
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg
Chair of Energy Process Engineering
The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is the oldest and most prestigious technological educational institution of Greece. The Laboratory of Steam Boilers and Thermal Plants (LSBTP) and Laboratory Thermal Processes (LTP) belong to the Thermal Sector of the School of Mechanical Engineering of the NTUA and is active for over 30 years in the field of energy efficiency and savings involved in various research topics in the area of central and decentralized energy production systems, power plants, combined heat and power or tri-generation systems, renewable energy (especially biomass and solar thermal), waste heat utilization, energy storage, Substitute Natural Gas production.
Prof. Dr. Sotirios Karellas
Director of the Laboratory of Steam Boilers and Thermal Plants
National Technical University of Athens
Laboratory of Steam Boilers and Thermal Plants
The Institute of Chemical and Energy Engineering (IVET) at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna works on thermo-chemical conversion (hydrothermal carbonisation, pyrolysis, gasification) of carbonaceous feedstock materials in fluidized beds and on other types of reactors as well as on fluidized bed systems for CO2 capture from gas streams and on engineering-level assessment of emerging energy conversion technologies.
The applied research methodology consists of experimental work in bench and pilot scale units accompanied by modelling (cold flow models as well as computer aided mathematical modelling) and simulation. A tailored process simulation tool is available for description of high temperature processes involving solids and readily provides information about exergy flows for quantification of resource-efficiency (IPSEpro).
The applied research methodology consists of experimental work in bench and pilot scale units accompanied by modelling (cold flow models as well as computer aided mathematical modelling) and simulation. A tailored process simulation tool is available for description of high temperature processes involving solids and readily provides information about exergy flows for quantification of resource-efficiency (IPSEpro).
Prof. Dr. Christoph Pfeifer
Head of Institute
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Institute of Chemical and Energy Engineering
Prof. Dr. Tobias Pröll
Deputy of Institute
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Institute of Chemical and Energy Engineering
Electrochaea’s proprietary technology converts renewable electricity and carbon dioxide into BioCat Methane, a low-carbon intensity synthetic methane. For this process we use Electrochaea’s patented biocatalyst – methanogenic archaea. BioCat Methane is reliable, practical, and a safe replacement for natural gas. It can be stored in the existing gas grid infrastructure.
This scalable solution allows for the efficient and unlimited storage of energy for future use, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerates decarbonization of the gas grid.
As part of the CarbonNeutralLNG project Electrochaea will develop and apply an affordable and robust real time on-site gas monitoring system (the RTIMS). This system will provide important data to the reactors control system, enabling advanced control strategies. The main task of the system is to detect any critical problems and initialize effective counter measures to maximize the process productivity. Additionally, the RTIMS will supply essential data that can help to optimize the design of the reactor and make it more cost-effective.
This scalable solution allows for the efficient and unlimited storage of energy for future use, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerates decarbonization of the gas grid.
As part of the CarbonNeutralLNG project Electrochaea will develop and apply an affordable and robust real time on-site gas monitoring system (the RTIMS). This system will provide important data to the reactors control system, enabling advanced control strategies. The main task of the system is to detect any critical problems and initialize effective counter measures to maximize the process productivity. Additionally, the RTIMS will supply essential data that can help to optimize the design of the reactor and make it more cost-effective.
Dr. Jose Rodrigo Quejigo
Group Leader Innovation
Electrochaea GmbH
With almost 160 years of experience across a wide range of industries, RINA Consulting S.p.A. is a multinational company that helps clients build strong, successful businesses. Through a global network of 3,900 talented professionals operating out of 200 offices in 70 countries, RINA provides a wide range of high-quality tailored solutions aiming to support market operators across the entire lifecycle of their projects, whilst assisting them in renewing their products, technologies and services.
All RINA services are performed at the highest professional level, understanding and complying with Clients’ needs and requirements while taking into due consideration sustainability and health, safety and environmental targets
All RINA services are performed at the highest professional level, understanding and complying with Clients’ needs and requirements while taking into due consideration sustainability and health, safety and environmental targets
Laura Bertolacci, PhD
R&D Project Manager
RINA Consulting S.p.A.
The University of Graz, founded in 1585, is Austria’s second oldest university and one of the largest in the country. The research focus is particularly on five Fields of Excellence distinguished by outstanding achievements, international successes and socially relevant topics. One of these Fields of Excellence, Smart Regulation, addresses topics related to technical innovations. Researchers from the fields of psychology, law, and economics are exploring issues, such as possible regulatory models, behaviour management and ways to influence the decisions made by individuals, companies and society. Another relevant Field of Excellence is Climate Change Graz, where requirements for the transition to an almost emission-free and climate-stable economy and society are investigated from various disciplines.
The research of the Institute of Psychology is characterised by the forward-looking combination of empirical-behavioural and neuroscientific methods to provide a deeper understanding of human behavior, motivation and emotions. The field of Social Psychology has a focus on understanding and optimizing environmental behavior by addressing the central components of individual behavior change – motivation, ability, opportunity, as well as positive emotions – and creating and strengthening social norms relating to sustainable behavior.
ClimLaw: Graz is a research center for climate law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Graz. It is part of the interdisciplinary Field of Excellence “Climate Change Graz” of the University of Graz, an association of researchers at Graz University who jointly research and share their knowledge on climate change and sustainability.
The research center’s task is to critically observe and analyse current developments in climate law, from International, Region and National perspectives, and to carry out research projects with a focus on climate and environmental law together with national and international partners from science and practice. Due to its close links with climate science, climate economics, climate ethics, etc. and its intensive cooperation with stakeholders, ClimLaw: Graz is transdisciplinary and acts as a competent partner for scientific reports, expert information and legal advice.
The research of the Institute of Psychology is characterised by the forward-looking combination of empirical-behavioural and neuroscientific methods to provide a deeper understanding of human behavior, motivation and emotions. The field of Social Psychology has a focus on understanding and optimizing environmental behavior by addressing the central components of individual behavior change – motivation, ability, opportunity, as well as positive emotions – and creating and strengthening social norms relating to sustainable behavior.
ClimLaw: Graz is a research center for climate law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Graz. It is part of the interdisciplinary Field of Excellence “Climate Change Graz” of the University of Graz, an association of researchers at Graz University who jointly research and share their knowledge on climate change and sustainability.
The research center’s task is to critically observe and analyse current developments in climate law, from International, Region and National perspectives, and to carry out research projects with a focus on climate and environmental law together with national and international partners from science and practice. Due to its close links with climate science, climate economics, climate ethics, etc. and its intensive cooperation with stakeholders, ClimLaw: Graz is transdisciplinary and acts as a competent partner for scientific reports, expert information and legal advice.
Prof. Dr. Katja Corcoran
Head of Section Social Psychology
University of Graz
Institute for Psychology
Dr. Miriam Hofer
University of Graz
Research Center ClimLaw: Graz
The Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) is recognized as one of Europe’s premier academic and research institutions. As one of Europe’s leading research universities, LMU looks back on 500 years of traditions. According to a ranking conducted by Times Higher Education in 2022, LMU is the highest-ranked German university and the 2nd highest ranked university in continental Europe. The project involves the research group for Applied Physical Geography and Environmental Modeling at LMU’s Department of Geography under the lead of Prof. Dr. Ralf Ludwig which adds expertise in the area of remote sensing to the project. In addition, the Spatial Artificial Intelligence group of Prof. Dr. Matthias Schubert provides expertise in deep learning on spatio-temporal data, data-driven simulation models and policy optimization.
Prof. Dr. Matthias Schubert
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Applied Physical Geography and Environmental Modeling
BEST – Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH is an Austrian COMET competence centre for renewable energy. The centre’s research activities cover all relevant technologies for the efficient and environmentally friendly provision of fuels, heat and power as well as primary products e.g. for the chemical industry from biomass. Performing mostly public-private-partnership R&D projects, BEST bridges the gap between academic research and industrial applications.
The Area Automation and Control focuses on the optimal operation of sustainable biorefinery and renewable energy systems, the optimal interaction of different technologies and systems and the highly automated operation management by new digital services.
In the project, BEST will mainly focus on adequate control strategies and will mainly investigate the dynamic behaviour especially during start-up and shut down and the part load behaviour. BEST will test different advanced Process Control (APC) schemes within the project and finally simulate different transient operation scenarios.
The Area Automation and Control focuses on the optimal operation of sustainable biorefinery and renewable energy systems, the optimal interaction of different technologies and systems and the highly automated operation management by new digital services.
In the project, BEST will mainly focus on adequate control strategies and will mainly investigate the dynamic behaviour especially during start-up and shut down and the part load behaviour. BEST will test different advanced Process Control (APC) schemes within the project and finally simulate different transient operation scenarios.
Dr. Markus Gölles
Area Manager - Automation and Control
BEST - Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH
DIEFFENBACHER Energy located in Austria is a leading supplier for solid, liquid and gaseous fuel fired power plant solutions. The company is a 100% daughter of the family owned DIEFFENBACHER company located in Germany with a 150 years history which is a world leading supplier of wood presses, forming presses, wood processing machines and recycling plants. DIEFFENBACHER Energy has references for steam boilers dating back to 1956 and has installed more than 100 power plants since 2000. We help our customers to meet their challenges such as decarbonization, decentralized energy supply, electrification and increasing energy demand, digitalization and new technologies such as gasification, hydrogen, synthetic fuel or SNG production. With our 4 offices in Austria, Poland and Germany we supply tailor-made, optimized power plant and boiler solutions for our clients worldwide. Our promise: “We always take our customers one step further in what they do.”
Thomas Hausmann
Head of Product Group Gasification Plants, Head of Technology Fluidized Bed & Industrial Heat Recovery
Dieffenbacher Energy
The Baltic Energy Innovation Centre (BEIC) is a non-profit research organisation participating in national and international R&DD activities focused on innovative energy technology in general, and renewable methane related development in particular
Jörgen Held, PhD
Executive Managing Director Baltic Energy Innovation Centre, CEO Renewable Energy Technology International AB
Baltic Energy Innovation Centre Ek. för.
KN Energies is the LNG and oil terminals operator, which ensures safe, reliable and efficient access to global energy markets for its customers by sustainable development, investment and operation of multi-functional terminals worldwide. KN is constantly seeking for innovative solutions to improve energy efficiency of the infrastructure and reduce its impact to the environment, as well as to assist our customers on cleaner energy transition.
Since 2014 KN operates the first floating LNG terminal in the Nordic-Baltic region, which contributes as an alternative source of energy supply to the Baltic Sea region. In addition to that, together with partners KN drives local LNG market development as well as contributes to innovation development through the LNG cluster and other initiatives.
Jurgita Šilinskaitė-Venslovienė
Head of LNG Commerce
KN Energies
Rūta Tumėnienė
LNG Commercial unit Project Manager
KN Energies
Members of the Technology Transfer and Dissemination Multiplier board