Since 2025, leading project partners have been pooling their expertise within the biogeniV innovation alliance to convert previously unused biogenic residues into high-quality synthesis gas. The consortium has now reached its next milestone at a kick-off meeting held at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. The research project ‘Plasma gasification of waste mixtures’, a sub-project of the ‘biogeniV’ alliance, is driving forward the production and use of green methanol and biomethane from Vorpommern.
Fermentation residues from biomass plants contain more than 90 per cent water and numerous organic substances derived from CO₂. The first sub-project of biogeniV investigated the dewatering, drying and processing of these biogenic residues into high-quality compacted materials, namely pellets. Biochar is mixed into these pellets. This is intended to improve the gasification behaviour of the residues and enable a more efficient thermochemical conversion into synthesis gas, which is highly valuable to the chemical industry. The sub-project that has now been launched goes one step further: The production of synthesis gas is being further developed technologically through the use of an arc plasma. Similar to electric welding, an arc is generated between two electrodes in the gasification reactor, thereby introducing electrical current in the form of heat at extremely high temperatures. Through the integration of renewable energy sources and targeted process optimisation, the aim is to maximise carbon utilisation, improve gas quality and further increase the economic viability of biomethanol production.
Integration into biogeniV’s overall strategy
The plasma gasification project is a key component of the biogeniV strategy, which aims to ensure the decentralised, sustainable and economically viable use of regional waste materials. It builds directly on the work carried out in the preliminary projects and consistently drives technological development towards industrial application. Close collaboration with other biogeniV sub-projects and the involvement of numerous partners from the worlds of science, industry and local government ensure a holistic approach and strengthen the region’s innovative capacity.
The aim: CO₂ emissions must be significantly reduced
Martin Gräbner – project manager and professor of energy process engineering at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg – is certain that, as part of the project, “…“by drawing on Freiberg’s expertise and supported by our partners’ know-how, the integration of renewable electrical energy into gasification processes can be achieved. This will lead to a massive increase in carbon utilisation efficiency and thus result in a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions.” At the kick-off meeting on 14 September 2026, the project objectives, work packages and timetable were agreed upon, with the aim of jointly making an important contribution to the sustainability of the use of regional resources and the development of innovative biofuel technologies. The project’s results are intended to pave the way for a demonstration plant and, in the long term, enable the industrial implementation of the plasma-assisted synthesis gas route in the biogeniV region.
Contact for enquiries: ronny [dot] schimpke [at] iec [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de
Project partners
TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF)
Cosun Beet Company GmbH & Co. KG Anklam (CBC)
mele Energy Engineering GmbH (mele)
PYREG GmbH (PYREG)
German Biomass Research Centre gGmbH (DBFZ)
ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH (ALD)
Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology e.V. (INP)
“WIR! – biogeniV – bV-B3 – Plasma gasification of mixed waste materials; WP1: Plasma-assisted production of synthesis gas from biogenic mixed waste materials”
Funding reference: 03WIR4912A
Duration: 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2029
