Press Release 177/2017

German Sustainability Award for Bio-electrochemical Fuel Cell

Collaboration of Partners from Research and Industry Results in the Development of a Component for an Energy-generating Sewage Treatment Plant
Biofilm on the anode (bottom) of the fuel cell: KIT researchers use optical coherence tomography to visualize the microbial biofilms that generate electric energy. (Graphics: Michael Wagner, KIT)
Biofilm on the anode (bottom) of the fuel cell: KIT researchers use optical coherence tomography to visualize the microbial biofilms that generate electric energy. (Graphics: Michael Wagner, KIT)

Sewage treatment plants have been among the biggest municipal energy consumers so far. With a new technology that turns the sewage treatment plant from an electricity consumer into a small power plant, a German team of researchers now wants to reverse the trend. The key component of the plant is a bio-electrochemical fuel cell that can directly produce electric power and hydrogen – without the digestion process used so far. For the innovative concept, in the development of which researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are involved, and that is coordinated by TU Clausthal, the group has now received the German Sustainability Award in the category of research.

 

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More information about the bio-electrochemical fuel cell BioBZ: http://www.bio-bz.de/ (in German only)

 

More information on the German Sustainability Award: https://www.nachhaltigkeitspreis.de/en/

 

German Sustainability Award in the category of research: The winners at the awards ceremony in Düsseldorf. (Photo: Ernst)

 

In close partnership with society, KIT develops solutions for urgent challenges – from climate change, energy transition and sustainable use of natural resources to artificial intelligence, sovereignty and an aging population. As The University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT unites scientific excellence from insight to application-driven research under one roof – and is thus in a unique position to drive this transformation. As a University of Excellence, KIT offers its more than 10,000 employees and 22,800 students outstanding opportunities to shape a sustainable and resilient future. KIT – Science for Impact.

le, 12.12.2017
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