Innovation network receives 2.3 million euros in funding / Construction of a pilot plant planned

Is it possible to technically imitate the process of coal production, shorten it and make it climate-neutral? "Hydrothermal carbonisation" (HTC) is the name of the new innovation network that is seeking answers to this question. Under the leadership of Oldenburg physicist Prof Dr Joachim Peinke, five institutes at the University of Oldenburg, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Braunschweig University of Technology and Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel are researching the process.
The project is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of Lower Saxony with a total of 2.3 million euros. Science Minister Prof. Dr Johanna Wanka presented Peinke with the approval notice at the Hannover Messe. The "HTC in Lower Saxony" project is receiving further support from numerous partners from industry.
"New technical production processes could lead to climate-neutral coal. The potential uses of biochar must therefore be researched further in the interests of the environment. The innovation alliance offers the best conditions for this," emphasised the Minister during her visit to the trade fair.
The process of coal formation takes millions of years in nature. Practically any type of biomass can be used as a starting material for the process of technically imitating and shortening the process of coal formation: waste from organic waste bins, street leaves, sewage sludge or fermentation residues from biogas plants. "The special thing about the hydrothermal carbonisation process is that energy is already released when the biomass is converted into coal, so the process is exothermic," explains Peinke. "The challenge is to design a process reactor that generates energy and coal at the same time."