A consortium linked to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has built a plant at the Mannheim wastewater treatment plant that cleans generated biogas and uses the resulting CO2 to produce climate-neutral marine fuel using green hydrogen. The process could help decarbonise the shipping sector, which is currently responsible for around three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The demonstration plant uses a patented process to convert biogas produced during wastewater treatment into climate-neutral methanol. The biogas is first purified and the separated CO₂ can then be used with renewably-produced hydrogen to make methanol – a raw material that can be used as marine fuel or in the chemical industry. Methanol does release the CO2 back into the atmosphere when burned. However, because the carbon comes from the treatment plant and not from additional fossil sources, it is considered climate neutral.
There are some 80,000 wastewater treatment plants in Europe that offer considerable potential for the new process, wrote KIT. "To achieve our climate protection goals, we must keep all technological options open," said Volker Wissing, federal minister for digital affairs and transport. “In addition to electrification and hydrogen-based propulsion, we need climate-friendly fuels, especially in maritime shipping." Stressing that the sector represented a future growth market, Wissing said Germany should play a pioneering role in research and development. "It's also about making our country independent of energy imports."
Vidal Vazquez, co-founder of climate tech start-up ICODOS, a spin-off from the KIT, added, "In Germany alone, wastewater treatment plants could produce several million tonnes of sustainable methanol annually." The project shows that "wastewater treatment plants can serve as the heart of sustainable fuel production – a potential that has so far remained untapped," Vazquez said. ICODOS is currently in discussions with other wastewater treatment plants to set up other production facilities.
Renewables-based synthetic fuels could be necessary to decarbonise certain sectors such as shipping, where alternatives are not available today, or extremely costly. However, producing the rare fuels is energy-intensive and expensive and they should only be used where the direct use of electricity is not an option.
Across the globe, clean hydrogen production is on the rise. For former coal towns like Vernon, Texas, it could provide a lifeline.
From the article:
The [green hydrogen] facility has become an example of how oil-rich states like Texas — which leads the nation in annual wind power production and is behind only California in annual solar power production — are buying into the renewable energy boom. Much of this investment was spurred by former President Joe Biden’s administration and his legislative goals, such as the roughly $500 billion that Congress set aside through its approval of the bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.
This eagerness to invest in renewable energy has come at a time when climate change has driven average global temperatures to roughly 1.1 degrees Celsius (and steadily climbing) above pre-industrial levels. To stave off the worst of the ongoing climate crisis’s effects, domestically and abroad, renewable sources like green hydrogen bear promise, scientists say. And that promise is already being fulfilled in nations like China, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden, all of whom are global leaders in green hydrogen production facilities that are in final planning or financing phases, according to a hydrogen projects data tracker published by the International Energy Agency last year.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., some 67 green hydrogen projects are planned through at least 2029, according to an energy transition paper published by the workforce solutions company Airswift.
The alternative fuel has always had promise, says Dr. Alan Lloyd, a renewable energy researcher at the University of Texas. It’s not a future pipe dream, he adds. But rather, now, “it’s happening.”
-At first she probably thinks you're just another of her many fans
-However, you're one of the first to actively try to get closer to her! Sure, a few other fans have tried, but most did too much ,to a point of restraining orders, or stopped after a week, usually finding a new obsession
-But not you. You stayed persistent, while respecting boundaries :)
-she revels in the attention you give her; you honestly need to be careful, before her already-over-the-top ego grows even bigger!!
-whenever she decides she needs extra attention, she'll just wait for you to come around, and goes "I'm so pretty, aren't I?" or purposefully works out in front of you, and she'll fully expect you to feed into her ego, once again (you do) (this is canon, this is basically just "pumping Iron"-)
-Eventually, you become a constant in her life, something, or rather someone, she can rely on to be there, even during the chaos of the races.
-she doesn't even realise that she looks longingly after you, when you do have to go. Starlight forbid anyone ever calls her out on it, though :p
-She really notices this, when you weren't there during a smaller race (maybe you got sick, maybe you were busy racing yourself, ect.). She finds herself visibly annoyed at the lack of attention before the race. Sure her fans were there, but it just wasn't the same. She beat up so many other trains during that race.
-When she gets back to the yard, she just sits there for a while, contemplating. because your missing presence should not affect the champion this much.
-Eventually she comes to terms with the fact that she likes you, and starts to reciprocate your affection ever so slightly. For example, if you hug her, she'll put an arm around your waist!
-It may not be much, but it's a start! she isn't used to caring this much. yet ;)
Rusty
-Poor boy is shocked.
-There are so many powerful and fast engines rolling around the yard - the champion herself is there! And yet you like him? a shunter engine?!
-Safe to say, he isn't used to the attention; it flusters him!
-Every time you as much as put a hand on his shoulder, he turns red and steam comes out of his ears! Every time you hug him, he just freezes in place, as if turned to stone! The first few times you thought the corrosion had finally eaten away at his train equivalent of a brain
-However, he'd be lying if he said that he minds; he isn't exactly used to attention, let alone kindness. Sure, the carriages are nice, but aside from Pearl, he wouldn't be surprised if it's out of pity - not to mention, that it's a nice change of pace, compared to the bullying he endures from Greaseball and her Gang
-Despite how shy he gets, he tries to reciprocate, but he usually ends up making it awkward.. He doesn't mean to, he just genuinely doesn't know what he's doing, he's not used to this level of affection!
-But you don't mind - you'd dare to call it endearing :) and that gives him some confidence, that you won't leave the moment you have a chance with one of the big shots
-He slowly starts to get used to your affection, and becomes less awkward himself! He no longer breaks at every touch! In fact, he starts to lean into your touches, finding them more comforting than anything
-Eventually, he even starts seeking you out himself, especially on days where work was exhausting, or Greaseballs gang was extra mean
-You become a sort of save space for him, someone he knows he can always turn to, someone who won't judge him for being himself
-By now, the way he looks at you has by far surpassed your own heart eyes. You may have fallen first, but he fell so much harder :)
Hydra
-Another smug one, but in a less egotistical way
-After his constant preaching about Hydrogen being the best option, it just feels good to be appreciated for once, instead of turned away!
-...even if technically isn't exactly because of that.. shhh, let the guy dream
- He really just lets you, he won't exactly reciprocate at first, but he doesn't mind! simply takes it as a compliment, and side hug you, at most
-Though conversation are bound to happen, considering how much time you spent around him; no matter if he's practicing for races, doing his job as a fuel truck, preaching about hydrogen, or simply taking a break, you are almost always around the corner
- Turns out you two actually have a lot in common, and you don't mind his passion for protecting the environment either!
-After a while, you two can usually be seen huddled together, laughing about something stupid, or simply talking about the most random things, barely ever even inches apart!
-The other freight trains definitely tease him about it; they give him teasing looks when you're together, or jokingly mimicking you two
-Just like with the previous two, it starts to be a lot weirder for you to not be there, instead of the other way around! whenever you two haven't seen each other in a bit, whether it's been a few days or just a few hours, it doesn't matter: when you see each other again, he'll be standing there expectantly, with his arms open :)
-You are definitely the person he trusts most, by now! after all, it's pretty hard to spill each others secrets while constantly around each other!
Dinah
-The girl is surprised; usually she's the Lovestruck one!
-She found your Lovestruck gaze adorable, and was honestly flattered to be the receiver of it
-While, unlike Rusty, she can still function, in spite of all your affection, she is certainly a blushy mess through and through!
-You two fit each other perfectly - once she got used to your affection, she is just as affectionate! Some would describe the two of you sickeningly sweet
-The other coaches get to hear all about you, and not as a passing comment either! No, you are the main topic of their girls (+Tassita) night, with discussions that go late into the night
-All the coaches are very supportive of you two, they're glad that Dinah is happy!
-Eventually, you two spent so much time together, that it's almost weird to see you two apart! And she couldn't say that she minds, you make great company, in her opinion :)
-It already felt great to have her love language be appreciated, but to have it reciprocated? she couldn't wish for more!
-you two are truly the perfect duo, complementing each other perfectly; according to rumours, you two are the cutest couple in the yard!
-You're the type of pair, to steal the attention from the actual race, because the cameras are busy getting all your cute moments for the fans
-If you're an engine, she definitely wants to race together, after all it's just more time for the two of you to be close! It doesn't matter if you're a top racer, or tend to hang in the back; she is as loyal as can be, she'll stick around!
-Over all, you two make the cutest couple!
My first StEx request, suuuper exited!! Hope you like it hehe <33
Ngl Hydras Part ended up kinda short, had a black out for him, for some reason :,)
Anywaysss, Feedback is welcome, just be nice, please!!
If a scientific innovation can address one of our most pressing environmental problems, it's a fantastic achievement.
The process is called alkaline thermal treatment (ATT), previously developed by some of the same researchers to convert seaweed into high-purity hydrogen. It uses the chemical sodium hydroxide and heat to drive hydrogen production. When tested on a mix of plastic waste, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP), ATT produced hydrogen gas at purities above 90 percent, without any sorting required.
The BYA-I One uses a twin pusher-configured propfan system, a shift from the earlier ducted-fan arrangement, powered by six 400kW hydrogen fuel cells delivering a combined 2.4MW of power, with a total propeller shaft output of 950kW.
Gaseous hydrogen is stored at 700 bar in externally mounted tanks above the wing structure, with a refueling time of just 30 minutes. The aircraft emits only water vapor in flight, making it one of the cleanest propulsion concepts in business aviation today. A custom-designed Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system ensures precise performance across all flight phases and will be certified under a TC Engine framework.
On performance, the numbers are compelling. The BYA-I One is designed to carry up to eight passengers over a range of 800 nautical miles at 300 knots, covering more than 80% of current European business aviation routes.
It has a maximum speed of 414 mph, a ceiling of 26,000 feet, and a takeoff ground roll of just 725 meters, short enough to serve constrained airports like London City, and can operate from grass, snow, and unpaved surfaces.
