Pyrolysis and PV (Prof. Biollaz, Prof. Kray)

The PyCCS-2050 project is investigating the industrial scaling of Pyrogenic Carbon Capture and Storage (PyCCS) by 2050—that is, the permanent removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere through biomass pyrolysis and the non-oxidative use of the products biochar, bio-oil, and pyrolysis gas. The goal is to increase carbon sequestration efficiency, develop new material utilization pathways, establish robust monitoring, reporting, and verification(MRV) concepts in line with future German and EU regulations, and to holistically assess ecological and economic impacts using life-cycle analyses. Hochschule Offenburg (HSO) is responsible for key technological developments in the field of pyrolysis and gas utilization: A condensation unit for the separation and material utilization of bio-oil is being installed at the existing facility, while the condensate-free pyrolysis gas is being experimentally characterized and its energy balance assessed. Based on this data, HSO simulates process chains for utilizing the pyrolysis gas—particularly for ammonia production via the Haber-Bosch process—taking into account gas treatment and waste heat recovery, and evaluates them in terms of efficiency and costs. In addition, innovative gas purification steps are being developed and tested on a laboratory scale. In this way, HSO is making a decisive contribution to advancing PyCCS from a primarily energy-driven application toward integrated, material-oriented, and climate-effective utilization concepts, and to creating the technological foundation for sustainable industrial implementation.

Project duration:
April 2026 – March 2029

Funding:
BMBFTR

Project partners:

• University of Hamburg

• Geisenheim University

• Institute for Non-Classical Chemistry (INC)

• Ithaka Institute, a non-profit limited liability company

The goal of the BC-LOOKUP project is to create a comprehensive database on the properties of biochar derived from secondary agricultural biomass, which also reflects the influence of different pyrolysis conditions and technologies. Building on this, a freely accessible online climate farming tool will be developed that allows farmers to calculate the potential for producing biochar based on basic data about their farm (farmed area, crops, number of animals) to calculate the potential for producing biochar and receive recommendations on measures (e.g., field hedges) that can be taken to generate the required amount of biomass. Furthermore, the data will be made available for climate and Earth system modeling, as well as for research and policy advisory purposes, to enable the calculation—based on biomass potential studies—of the possible contribution of pyrolysis to sustainable resource management in the future.

Project Duration:
September 2023 – August 2029

Funding:
BMEL

Project Partners

• Ithaka Institut gemeinnützige GmbH

• DBFZ German Biomass Research Center, non-profit GmbH

Through the GreenPracticeH2O project, Hochschule Offenburg (HSO) is working to promote greater resource efficiency and closed-loop material cycles in photovoltaic production. The goal of this collaborative project is to use water, process chemicals, and energy more sustainably in the manufacture of silicon solar cells and to find meaningful ways to reuse previously unused by-products. The HSO is responsible for further processing concentrated rinse water from PV production. First, suitable analytical methods for determining KOH, carbonate, and silicate contents will be tested and validated. Building on this, HSO will optimize the binder reactions by adjusting the amounts of water glass, calcium aluminate cement, and lye added. The goal is to develop sustainable concrete substitutes. The mixtures produced are being experimentally tested for applications such as railroad ties, water-repellent roof tiles, and carbon concrete. In this way, HSO is making a concrete contribution to returning silicate-containing wastewater into the material cycle and to the development of climate-friendly building materials in line with sustainable energy and resource management.

Project duration:
March 2025 – February 2028

Funding: 
BMWK

Project partners

• Bifa Environmental Institute

• Centrotherm Clean Solutions

• Delta-Umwelt-Technik GmbH

• Fraunhofer ISE

• ICB GmbH & Co. KG

• Mondas GmbH

• Oxford PV

• RENA Technologies GmbH

• Singulus Technologies AG

• Technical University of Berlin

• Vallis Solaris

• WinMod GmbH

PyFlex undertakes a detailed and holistic assessment of PyCCS technology as a flexibility provision measure in the German electricity and heating system. It quantifies and evaluates the potential of a flexible use of pyrolysis plants in a future energy system. Through the open-source development of the intersectoral energy system model "MyPyPSA-Ger", in which the agricultural sector is mapped, the competitive situation for (flexible) biomass use will also be evaluated. A model-based, techno-economic system evaluation of the flexibility of pyrolysis plants will be compared with a business analysis, including the consideration of business models and the effects of changes to the political and economic framework conditions. The evaluation will be supplemented by an ecological analysis.

Funding period

April 2024 - March 2027

Funding institution

BMWK

Project partner

Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung (IÖW)

In this project, we are further developing Apollon Solar’s proprietary N.I.C.E. (tm) technology (New Industrial Cell Encapsulation). Together with F.U.R. Wickeltechnologie, we are demonstrating the transition from flat ribbons to round wires in cell interconnects. This reduces shading while increasing PV output and improving tolerance to microcracks. The project is preparing the production technology and market launch. At the University, we are developing the process technology, presenting laboratory prototypes, and characterizing them.

Funding agency: BMWi, FKZ ZF4384205 ZG8

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the EU’s climate targets require all economic sectors to significantly reduce their consumption of fossil fuels. However, the agricultural sector has the potential not only to decarbonize significantly but also to produce energy—not at the expense of food production, but in parallel with it.

Photovoltaics (PV) have become dramatically more competitive compared to other renewable energy sources and are now as competitive as wind power. Currently, PV farms are being installed on large tracts of land, leading to a loss of arable land for crops. Combined agri-photovoltaic (APV) systems, which allow for dual land use—growing crops while simultaneously generating electricity—offer the ideal solution.
HyPErFarm brings together various types of stakeholders with the goal of promoting the market viability of radically new crop production systems, innovation workshops for stakeholders, and fostering acceptance among citizens and consumers—as well as analyzing public perception and conducting studies on farmer acceptance—to test the market viability of these products.

HyPErFarm also develops and demonstrates new ways to use and distribute the energy produced on the farm using heat pumps, e-robots, hydrogen production, storage, and utilization, as well as the electrical pyrolysis of biomass by-products, which sequesters carbon while simultaneously improving soil quality. The project’s impact lies in the further development of APV systems for large-scale market introduction and in making attractive new business models accessible to farmers.
HyPErFarm thus supports radical innovation and contributes to building a future EU agricultural sector with low fossil carbon use and high climate resilience, one that can also supply local communities with electricity and hydrogen. The 12 partners of HyPErFarm are capable of adopting and further developing the new cultivation methods, providing the necessary new technologies, and implementing new APV business models that enable continuous food production on land used for energy generation.

Project website
https://hyperfarm.eu

Funding Body
EU, Horizon 2020

Optimization of local material flow management to develop and demonstrate modular, replicable measures for reducing emissions and creating nature-based carbon sinks.

The Mundenhof Animal and Nature Adventure Park, covering an area of 38 ha, is the largest animal enclosure in Baden-Württemberg, generating a large volume of organic waste such as manure, leaves, and yard trimmings. To date, most of this waste has been disposed of off-site, which involves significant effort and costs. The on-site conversion of these organic residues and waste materials into biochar, nutrient-rich humus, and high-quality planting substrates could make a significant contribution to the Mundenhof’s climate and environmental protection efforts as well as its business objectives.

As part of the project (involving a total of six project partners), a variety of modules for reducing emissions and creating carbon sinks are being developed. The climate impact of these individual measures will be quantified and documented so that they can be replicated—either individually or in any combination—by interested municipalities or businesses.

Funding provider:
Badenova

• Jannis Grafmüller, Hans-Peter Schmidt, Daniel Kray, Thomas D. Bucheli, Haike Mäurer, Jens Möllmer, Heiko Peisert, Nikolas Hagemann, "Biochar acidification increased sorption and reduced leaching of nitrate," Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 393, 2025, 127224, ISSN 0301-4797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127224. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479725032001)

• M. Domènech Monfort, A. Sandhaas, E. Zozmann, C. Pönisch, D. Kray, N. Hartmann, "Energy system transformations toward zero emissions: A focus on pyrolysis," Energy Conversion and Management: X, Volume 26, 2025, 101052, ISSN 2590-1745, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.101052. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525001849)

• Grafmüller, J., Möllmer, J., Muehe, E.M. et al. "Granulation compared to co-application of biochar plus mineral fertilizer and its impacts on crop growth and nutrient leaching." Sci Rep 14, 16555 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66992-0

• M. Domènech Monfort, A. Sandhaas, E. Zozmann, Ch. Pönisch, D. Kray, N. Hartmann, The Role of Pyrolysis as a Negative Emission Technology in Future Energy Systems. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4606539 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4606539

• Grafmüller, J.; Schmidt, H.-P.; Kray, D.; Hagemann, N. "Root-Zone Amendments of Biochar-Based Fertilizers: Yield Increases of White Cabbage in Temperate Climates." Horticulturae 2022, 8, 307. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8040307

• D. Kray et al., "N.I.C.E.-Wire: Next Generation Robust Eco-Friendly Bifacial PV modules With High Efficiency," in IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 38–44, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2021.3124168.

• Christoph Pönisch, Lukas Schanz, Jesus Salazar da Costa Fernandes, Michael Schmidt, Daniel Kray, "Encapsulant-Free Full-Size N.I.C.E. Modules in Outdoor Performance Test: First-Year Results and Roadmap toward Higher Efficiency." 40th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (September 2023: Lisbon, Portugal). https://doi.org/10.4229/EUPVSEC2023/3AV.3.32

• P. Leibiger, C. Pönisch, T. Seifert, D. Kray, “Paving the Way for Low Breakage Rates in Industrial Production of N.I.C.E.-Wire Modules,” World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (8th: September 26–30, 2022: Milan, Italy), https://doi.org/10.4229/WCPEC-82022-3DV.1.7

• D. Reinwand, P. Wiechers, D. Kray, “NEW DEVICE FOR ACCURATE Measurement of Busbarless Bifacial Solar Cells Using N.I.C.E.™ Technology,” 37th EU-PVSEC 2020, online.

• Dirk Reinwand, Benedikt King, Joerg Schube, Frédéric Madon, Roland Einhaus, Daniel Kray, "Lab-scale Manufacturing of Medium-sized N.I.C.E.™ Modules with High-efficiency Bifacial Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells," AIP Conference Proceedings 2156, 020009 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5125874

• D. Reinwand, D. Pysch, N. Bay, J. Burschik, H.H. Kuehnlein, F. Madon, R. Einhaus, A. Brand, V. Arya, B. Smith, D. Richter, D. Kray, “All Copper NICE modules,” 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, June 10–15, 2018, Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA

• D. Kray, N. Hagemann, C. Pönisch, Strategies for Biochar-Based Fertilization—Classification of Products: Agricultural Decarbonization with Biochar, November 2023, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14907.39201, Conference: German Biochar Forum 2023, Berlin, Germany

• Harald Bier, Helmut Gerber, Marcel Huber, Hannes Junginger, Daniel Kray, Jörg Lange, Hansjörg Lerchenmüller, Pål Jahre Nilsen, “EBI White Paper—Counteracting Climate Change with Biochar-Based Carbon Sinks,” www.biochar-industry.com/why