Press releases

Sustainability is inextricably linked with social change. In this context, science provides the basis and framework for establishing sustainable action. This can only succeed if those involved communicate with each other at eye level and trust each other. The UMSICHT Science Award honors people whose work strengthens trust between science and society. The prize is awarded in the categories of science and journalism and is endowed with a total of 10 000 euros. Applications can be submitted a until February 28, 2022.

Hard, ash, and natural turf pitches cannot always be played on due to the weather. By contrast, artificial turf enables year-round use – making this a popular, widespread surface. However, it is associated with negative effects on the environment, as shown by a system analysis of artificial turf pitches that has now been published in a report by Fraunhofer UMSICHT. The report covers topics such as the release of microplastics, recycling, and the choice of location, while also offering recommendations on how those responsible can take countermeasures and make artificial turf pitches more sustainable.

Recycling is the key factor in achieving the EU climate targets. This is shown by the results of the "resources SAVED by recycling" study published today, which Fraunhofer UMSICHT prepared on behalf of the ALBA Group, one of the ten leading recycling companies worldwide. According to the study, 3.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions and 28.8 million tons of primary resources could be saved in 2020 alone. Further potential could be raised, for example, through minimum quotas for the use of recycled raw materials.

The Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE and its In-stitute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT have deve-loped an advanced recycling process for used plastics. The pilot project with SABIC and Procter & Gamble serves to demonstrate the feasibility of closed-loop recycling for single-use facemasks.

Whether gas diffusion electrodes, paper-bound porous transport layers for PEM electrolysis or the AI-inspired design and manufacturing of fuel cells – at the "E3C – Electrochemical Cell Concepts Colloquium" on May 5, 2021, scientists from around the world provided inspiring insights into their research. The virtual event focused on the interdisciplinary exchange about the design of electrochemical reactors.

Redox flow batteries are perfect for storing large quantities of renewable energy, but they have always been too expensive for the mass market. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT have now completely redesigned the heart of a redox flow battery — the stack — and have brought about a massive reduction in material usage and costs. Their efforts have earned them the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize.

The issue of plastic waste has become part of all social debates. However, the pollution of the ecological system soil still receives little attention. So, the question arises whether plastics that remain on soils or fields (incl. water from drainage systems) do not have similar effects on the environment as, for example, in seas, rivers or lakes? Researchers of the iMulch project succeeded in establishing the first three test criteria for determining microplastics in the ecological system soil.

They can be used to produce green hydrogen and convert carbon dioxide into feedstocks for the chemical industry. Electrolysis technologies have increasingly come into focus in the context of climate protection, energy and raw material change. The result: a plethora of catalyst candidates, almost none of which, however, has yet reached the stage of applicability. Marketable concepts for electrodes and cells are also still in short supply. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institutes UMSICHT, ISE and ICT, the University of Duisburg-Essen, the Ruhr University Bochum, the Center for Fuel Cell Technology (ZBT) and the Danish company IRD Fuel Cells have investigated the reasons for this and what needs to change for electrolysis to become an industrial application. They have published their findings under the title "Crossing the Valley of Death: From Fundamental to Applied Research in Electrolysis" in the "Journal of American Chemistry Au".

Construction work has started on an unusual project in Oberhausen-Tackenberg: 836 residential units of the Osterfelder Wohnungsgenossenschaft and the Wohnungsgenossenschaft Oberhausen-Sterkrade will be supplied with climate-friendly local heat in the future. The energy supplier Energieversorgung Oberhausen AG (evo) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT developed the underlying energy supply concept, which includes building renovations by the housing cooperatives.

Defossilizing production chains and establishing circular, greenhouse gas-neutral material and energy conversion – the chemical industry has set itself ambitious goals in terms of sustainability. As of now, nine institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are providing support in this process: In the lead project ShaPID, they want to bundle their research activities for achieving the sustainability goals and at the same time strengthen their relationships with the industry.