Press releases, interviews and news

Recycling and waste management facilities are among the most energy-intensive sectors of the economy: Crushers, screening and drying plants, mobile machinery, and complex logistics processes result in high consumption of electricity, heat, and fuel. The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT and HDB Recycling GmbH are collaborating on a joint project to determine how a climate-neutral energy supply can still be achieved: With the help of a transformation plan, the company’s site in Hünxe is to become greenhouse gas-neutral by 2045 – without jeopardizing economic viability or competitiveness. Within the next ten years, emissions caused by electricity, heat, and fuel consumption are to be reduced by at least 40 percent.

Jana Lieske-Overgrand is pursuing a master’s degree in chemistry at the University of Duisburg-Essen and is writing her master’s thesis at Fraunhofer UMSICHT. Since joining the team as a research assistant in catalyst testing, she has been involved in various research projects. In this interview, she talks about her daily work routine, the high level of personal responsibility in practical research, and the trusting atmosphere within the team.

The UMSICHT Research School has been supporting young researchers on their path to a doctorate and creating space for exchange, structure, and support for ten years. In this interview, Dr. Dr. Alina Gawel talks about how she has grown both professionally and personally through the Research School – and why patience, frustration tolerance, and team spirit are indispensable for everyday scientific work.

Housing companies and real estate firms face the challenge of making their housing stock climate-neutral, affordable, and future-proof. The multitude of technical options, regulatory requirements, and funding opportunities makes decision-making complex – especially when measures are considered in isolation. Integrated district energy concepts provide clarity here: They consider heat, electricity, buildings, grids, and mobility in context, identify synergies, and provide a robust foundation for strategic investments. In this interview, Pierre Krisam from our Energy Systems Integration department explains what such a holistic approach looks like in practice and what added value it offers compared to individual measures.

Cleaner water in the Aller river, in groundwater, and in agricultural areas – that is the goal of a joint project between Wolfsburg’s wastewater treatment facilities and the Fraunhofer Institutes UMSICHT and ISI. This is to be achieved with the help of a fourth treatment stage at the Wolfsburg-Stahlberg wastewater treatment plant. For the first time, the combination of membrane filtration with a regenerable adsorbent resin stage and activated carbon will be tested. This is expected to eliminate trace substances much more effectively and efficiently in the future. Concurrently, measures at Wolfsburg Hospital will reduce pollution from X-ray contrast agents.

How can small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) implement digital technologies and climate-friendly energy solutions more quickly and effectively? This question is at the heart of the newly launched joint research project “EQUIT – Campus2Company.” The objective: to sustainably strengthen knowledge transfer between research institutions and SMEs in the EmscherAchse+ region – and thus make a concrete contribution to the digital and energy transformation of the economy in the northern Ruhr region.

Fraunhofer UMSICHT operates a laboratory and technical research center in Dortmund dedicated to the development of materials based on fungal mycelium and has consolidated its research activities on mycelium-based materials under the FungiFacturing® brand. The open participatory lab formerly known as DEZENTRALE has evolved into a research facility with a robust infrastructure dedicated to developing mycelium as a sustainable material.

Practical research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a strong sense of teamwork characterize Tadashi Kadowaki’s work at Fraunhofer UMSICHT. The mechanical engineering student is writing his master’s thesis in the “Power to Chemicals” department and works closely with his team. In this interview, he talks about his path to UMSICHT, his day-to-day research tasks, and why the collegial work environment is particularly important to him.

Advancing the circular economy in the metalworking and chemical industries – that is the goal of the “SäureWert” research project. Recovering acids and valuable resources reduces the demand for primary raw materials and the volume of hazardous waste. This conserves resources, cuts costs, and reduces environmental impact. Fraunhofer UMSICHT, together with project partner FNE Entsorgungsdienste Freiberg GmbH, is paving the way for industrial application.

The UMSICHT Research School was launched ten years ago. Its objective: to support doctoral candidates on their way to a doctorate – within three to four years. The figures show that the Research School concept has proven its worth: To date, almost 90 graduates have successfully completed their dissertations. We spoke to some of them about their experiences, including Dr. Christian Geitner.