The Energy Technology & Sector Coupling group develops, evaluates and integrates innovative energy and ressource concepts for a sustainable, climate-neutral and resilient water sector. At its core is the intelligent coupling of energy production, storage and utilisation to create synergies between the water sector, bioeconomy and other energy- and resource-intensive industries.
Our research spans from the analysis and optimization of existing energy systems at wastewater treatment and biogas plants to the development of new technologies for the use and recovery of renewable energy and biogenic resources. A key focus lies in the optimisation of complex renewable energy systems and their integration into supply concepts aimed at defossilising the water sector and related industries.
By coupling water, energy and material flows across sectors, we develop new approaches to circular economy and the defossilisation of industrial processes. To this end, we employ modelling and simulation tools as well as laboratory, pilot-scale and full-scale facilities in which processes are evaluated under real-world conditions.
Our interdisciplinary team combines expertise in engineering, chemistry and biology with systems analysis methods, working in close collaboration with partners from municipalities, industry and research — towards a holistic, efficient and future-ready energy and water sector.
Research Activities
Our research and development activities centre on three core areas.
The first is the integration and optimisation of renewable energy systems — efficiently designing complex energy infrastructures and improving the incorporation of renewable energy sources into water sector and industrial applications through intelligent control strategies.
The second is the valorisation of biogenic resources, with a particular focus on biogenic carbon sources, which we harness through innovative bioeconomic processes for sustainable energy and ressource production.
The third is the transfer of energy technologies and processes into large-scale application, contributing to the transfer of scientific insights into practical solutions that advance the energy transition.
awaregio | Waterreuse
Modular wastewater treatment processes for the reuse in agriculture, aquaponics and the substitution of drinking water resources
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B2M Raman
Optimisation of the dynamic Biogas-to-Methanol-Process using inline Raman spectroscopy
MoreClearWater
Development of an AI-based optical measuring system for monitoring the flocculant dosing process in wastewater and reduction of polyacrylamide-based flocculants using dual flocculation
MoreTransfer from research into routine application
Holistic evaluation of available findings of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring for the pandemic assessment in North Rhine-Westphalia
MoreHydrogen-based sector coupling between water, energy, and transportation
E-BO(2)t – Production of electrolysis-based methanol fuels and oxygen utilization in wastewater treatment at the WWTP Bottrop
MoreE-MetO
Elektrolyse mit Nutzung von Brauchwasser als Schnittstelle zwischen biologischer Methanisierung und Ozonierung
MoreecReUse | South Africa
Enhancing Resource Use Efficiency in South Africa through Water Reuse and Sustainable Energy Production at Wastewater Treatment Plants
MoreECWASA | South Africa
Innovative water infrastructure management to increase water security for people, economy and agriculture in Southern Africa
MorePollution load based sewer management in Cologne
ENTfrachtEN – Development of an integral process measuring and control technology concept for pollution load based real-time control of wastewater discharge with the aim of surface water relief.
MoreMethanol synthesis from sewage gas
GREEN-BEE - Market- and product-oriented further development of the concept for synthesizing methanol from sewage gas
MoreSustainable denim finishing using water recycling and renewable energies
GreenFactory SARTEX in Tunisia
MoreFuture-oriented technologies and services for a sustainable land management
I-WALAMAR – Water- und land management in Morocco
MoreFrom cotton field to hanger
InoCottonGROW – Global cotton textile industry: the german water footprint in Pakistan
MoreKARL – EU-Kommunalabwasserrichtlinie
Wir unterstützen Sie auf dem Weg zu Ihrer zukunftsorientierten Kläranlage
MoreSewage sludge management in Hannover
Market and potential study sewage sludge for the North-East Region and the Hannover Metropolitan Region
MoreSewage sludge management in the Rhine-Hunsrück district (Germany)
Future treatment and utilization of sewage sludge from the sewage treatment plants of the municipalities of the Rhine-Hunsrück district in Germany
MoreMethanol: The renewable Fuel that drives us tomorrow
Methanolstandard – Examination of the technical foundations for standardizing methanol fuels in Europe
MoreMoniKlär
MoniKlär – Monitoring of wastewater treatment plants to mitigate operational greenhouse gas emissions
MoreNiersFluX
High-resolution trace substance flux balance in the Niers catchment to quantify direct and indirect input pathways and derive options for action
MoreAnoxic Biowash for Biogas Desulfurization as a Contribution to the Climate Future
NitroSX – Microbiological Biogas Desulphurisation
MorePower-to-Fuel
New processes for the production of climate-neutral energy sources based on biogas and renewable surplus electricity
Morerender – More renewable energies
Regional dialogue on energy change - together on the way to an energy region
MoreSolar heat for Walheim
SolNahWal – Feasibility study for a fourth-generation heating network system ("Heating network systems 4.0") at Aachen-Walheim
MoreSPIS4FNS | Kenya
SPIS4FNS – Development and Optimization of Solar-Powered Rainwater Harvesting Concepts to Strengthen Food Security in Kenya
MoreTrace substance elimination from CP plants
Best Available Techniques (BAT) for reducing the entry of micropollutants from wastewater of CP Treatment Plants for hazardous waste into water bodies
MoresubKRITIS
Assessment of the IT security level of small and medium-sized wastewater treatment plants in North Rhine-Westphalia below the KritisV
MoreTextile curved sieve
Filter system for solids separation from wastewater streams with low-maintenance cleaning concept based on structured pile textiles with defined separation behavior
MoreIntegrated resource management in Southeast Asia
Urban-NEXUS concept for sustainable wastewater collection and treatment in Jakarta
MoreWaterReTUNe | Tunisia
Desalination, Nutrient Recovery, and Diversified Utilization of NBS-Treated Wastewater
MoreWBEready
Wastewater based epidemiology and preparedness: reserach need for a roadmap to develop adaptive monitoring capacities in the public health service
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