RWTH Presents Sustainable Innovations at Federal President’s Week of the Environment
On June 4 and 5, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU) are hosting the “Week of the Environment” at Bellevue Palace in Berlin. This event, inaugurated in 2002 by then-Federal President Johannes Rau, marks its seventh edition this year. The grounds of the official residence of the Federal President have transformed into a vibrant hub with approximately 190 exhibitors, stage events, and expert forums addressing current environmental issues, featuring prominent figures from politics, society, business, and science. The exhibitors are presenting their innovative ideas for a sustainable future. RWTH is featured in Berlin with three thematically organized exhibition stands focusing on recycling, hydrogen, and phosphates. A jury selected the exhibitors from around 400 nationwide submissions.
Circular Economy as a Key Factor
Sustainable raw material usage is critical for transitioning to a sustainable society, necessitating a shift towards circular value creation cycles. Under the theme “How do we achieve the resource turnaround? Circular economy as a key factor,” the Chair of Anthropogenic Material Cycles at RWTH will present cutting-edge research on the circular economy. The showcased projects aim to highlight both opportunities and challenges in this essential field.
Transforming into a Sustainable Hydrogen Society
As the world strives for a climate-neutral society, the role of a hydrogen economy in achieving this goal by integrating electrical grids, heating grids, and chemically bound energy carriers becomes increasingly crucial. RWTH scientists are at the forefront of this transition, presenting three key aspects of Aachen’s hydrogen research: bringing innovative solutions from the lab to the market, methods for scaling and reducing production costs, and ensuring durability and operational safety.
Phosphates from Renewable Raw Materials
Phosphates are crucial nutrients in agriculture, traditionally mined from finite phosphate rock reserves. RWTH’s Chair of Biotechnology and Institute of Applied Microbiology have developed a sustainable process for the food industry to recycle phosphates from renewable raw materials. The researchers proudly present this method at the Week of the Environment in Berlin. Their two-step biotechnological process involves enzymatically extracting phosphate from food production waste, such as de-oiled seeds and bran, and biotransforming it with microorganisms. This innovation will help us move towards a circular phosphorus economy, providing a sustainable solution for the food industry.