The start-up ICODOS has gained new insights into sustainable fuel production in collaboration with the KIT and the Eigenbetrieb Stadtentwässerung Mannheim (EBS). The production process is based on the use of biogas from the Mannheim sewage treatment plant, which is further processed in a demonstration plant operated by KIT and ICODOS. The biogas is purified and converted into methanol using renewable electricity and hydrogen. The electricity drives the electrolysis process, which produces hydrogen that then reacts with theCO2 extracted from the biogas. The aim of the process is to specifically reduce unavoidableCO2 emissions. The resulting product offers a sustainable alternative for the shipping industry. Shipping is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
A key advantage of the process is its scalability. While many existing e-fuel technologies rely on large-scale industrial production facilities, the new approach enables cost-efficient production even in smaller, decentralized units. As a result, the production of sustainable fuels can be flexibly expanded and established throughout Europe. This pioneering project demonstrates the enormous potential of wastewater treatment plants as an energy source - there are around 9,000 in Germany alone and up to 75,000 across Europe.
