News
World premiere: ‘Mannheim 001’ production plant turns wastewater and electricity into marine fuel
Festive inauguration in Mannheim with German Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing sets a new benchmark for the sustainable production of marine fuel.
- Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing inaugurates plant at wastewater treatment facility in Mannheim
- production plant converts the biogas obtained from wastewater into sustainable marine fuel using electricity
- e-methanol is a fuel alternative and thus a key to the sustainable transformation of the shipping industry
Mannheim, 24 March 2025 – (KIT) and the (EBS) Mannheim. This trailblazing project harnesses the immense potential of wastewater treatment plants – in Germany alone there are around 9,000 of them, and at EU level the figure is estimated at up to 75,000.
At the opening, Federal Minister for Transport Dr. Volker Wissing emphasised: “To achieve our climate protection targets, we must keep all technological options open. Alongside electrification and hydrogen-based propulsion, we need climate-friendly fuels, particularly in maritime shipping. Germany should take a pioneering role in research and development. That is where a growth market of the future lies. It is also about making our country independent of energy imports. ‘Mannheim 001’ shows how economic efficiency and climate protection can go hand in hand. This project can serve as a model for many other locations in Germany and Europe.”
The lighthouse project ‘Mannheim 001’ is further proof that, with new technologies, climate protection and industrial growth can go hand in hand,” explains Mannheim’s Mayor Christian Specht. “Here, a start-up company from our Mafinex technology and business incubator, with support from the City of Mannheim’s climate fund and in close cooperation with the municipal wastewater utility, is showing how green fuel for shipping can be produced from wastewater. This is another innovation ‘Made in Mannheim’ that we can be proud of.
As part of the project, biogas is obtained at the Mannheim wastewater treatment plant. This is further processed in the demonstration plant operated by KIT and ICODOS. The electricity is used for electrolysis to produce hydrogen. This then reacts with the CO2 extracted from the biogas. The entire process is designed to remove unavoidable CO2 from the system and thereby contribute to reducing greenhouse gases. The “e-methanol” produced ultimately serves as a sustainable marine fuel and demonstrates the potential of the entire process chain to turn wastewater into valuable energy carriers.
“The new plant impressively demonstrates how research and entrepreneurial spirit can generate practical solutions for the sustainable transformation of our economy,” says Professor Thomas Hirth, Vice President for Transfer and International Affairs at KIT. “Here, biogas that arises during wastewater treatment is turned into a valuable material – an innovative approach that shows how existing resources can be used intelligently and in a climate-friendly way.
Wastewater treatment plants as drivers of the sustainable transformation
Unlike other available technologies, the technology developed by ICODOS and KIT makes it possible to produce e-fuels cost-effectively even in relatively small projects. It is therefore ideally suited for the rapid ramp-up of production in Europe.
The plant in Mannheim provides a of the shipping industry and the energy sector – a milestone that opens up new opportunities not only locally, but globally.
About KIT
As “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for society and the environment. Its goal is to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility and information. To this end, around 10,000 employees work together on a broad disciplinary basis in the natural sciences, engineering, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, business and science through a research-oriented university education. KIT’s innovation activities bridge the gap between knowledge and application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity and the preservation of our natural resources. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
EBS is responsible for wastewater treatment for the City of Mannheim. The Mannheim wastewater treatment plant, operated by EBS, is one of the central facilities for wastewater purification and plays a key role in sustainable urban development and environmental protection.