News details

The CoAct project starts with an event in Friedrichshafen


The CoAct project was presented to the public at a kick-off event in Friedrichshafen on September 12th, 2018.

The project aims to clarify the prerequisites and perspectives for the conversion of "residual biomass" into activated carbon and fuels. In addition to the project objectives, the project partners provided information on the technical and implementation-related challenges. For the Lake Constance district and the city of Friedrichshafen, the attraction lies in bringing together and enhancing the value of the biomass produced on the nature conservation areas and in orchards or similar open spaces. The consortium hopes to make a contribution to the sustainable development of the region.

As part of the project, a realization concept for the CoAct process will be developed. In this process, "residual biomass" is separated into solid and liquid substances by means of pressure and heat (so-called hydrothermal treatment). The resulting pressed juice can be used to generate energy in a biogas plant. The same applies to the solids that are pressed into pellets. However, the aim of the project is to refine the pellets, which are also produced, into activated carbon by pyrolysis. Due to its water-purifying effect, it can be used, for example, to purify waste water. This increases the added value that can be generated from residual biomass and opens up a sustainable source of activated carbon.

The IfLS contributes to the development and evaluation of such value chains. On the one hand, economic aspects of the provision of biomass are to be considered. Furthermore, the IfLS analyses the regional actor networks. Subsequently, implementation scenarios of the CoAct procedure with the relevant stakeholders are to be developed in a participatory manner.

The project has a duration of five years (July 2018 - June 2023) and is coordinated by the University of Kassel. In addition, seven other project partners from the fields of research, the private sector or municipal administration are involved in the project. The project is financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the "Stadt-Land-Plus" funding measure.

Contact persons at IfLS: Christoph Mathias (mathias[at]ifls.de) and Dr. Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de)