Project overview

The Institute for Sustainable Technical Systems (INATECH) at the University of Freiburg is establishing a competence centre for the development of functional material systems with funding from the Carl Zeiss Foundation.

BioBrix aims to develop new types of binders and fiber reinforcements made from leather, natural fiber and wool waste for the production of building materials. Their use in unbaked clay, concrete and floors is intended to increase the strength and durability of the building materials and minimize their CO2 footprint.

Prof. Dr. Martin Schreivogel, Professor of Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, is investigating fuel cell and electrolyzer systems. By measuring and processing a large number of operating parameters, a model is being developed to optimize the systems.

Ceramic solar cells are intended to bring together the advantages of different technologies: The printability of organic solar cells, the ferroelectricity of lead halide perovskite and the long-term stability of crystalline solar cells.

The aim of the project is to develop and optimize a liquid injection system. This is to enable isothermal expansion and compression for use in compressors and engines, thus increasing their efficiency.

The SektorSim³ project analyzes the interactions between the heat, electricity and mobility sectors in archetypal neighborhoods. Different actors, such as public utilities, municipalities or the housing industry, are taken into account.

In line with the energy turnaround, electricity demand in the process industry must be used flexibly in the future oriented to the electricity supply. To this end, the project is investigating the flexibilization of batch processes and DC-based supply networks..

Research is being conducted into how virtual and augmented reality can be used to shape a transformation process with the various stakeholders in energy supply. Among other things, a digital twin of existing urban neighborhoods is being developed.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Iman Taha, Professor of Sustainable Materials in Plastics Engineering at Aalen University, is developing new biocomposite materials for lightweight construction in the BioLeit project.

Using a digital twin, the project aims to link the extraordinary properties of microstructures on different length scales. For example, particularly strong materials can be developed with less material input.