Biogas plants, combined heat and power plants don’t just generate electricity, they also produce heat. However, unlike the electricity they yield, the heat generally dissipates unused. A new technology is set to change this: It will allow the heat to be stored lossfree in the smallest of spaces for lengthy periods of time, for use as and when required.

Mushy tomatoes, brown bananas and overripe cherries – to date, waste from wholesale markets has ended up on the compost heap at best. In future it will be put to better use: Researchers have developed a new facility that ferments this waste to make methane, which can be used to power vehicles.

Forscher haben erstmals eine Biogasanlage entwickelt, die statt mit Lebensmittel-Rohstoffen nur mit Reststoffen betrieben wird – Reststoffe werden so zu Wertstoffen. Die Anlage erzeugt 30 Prozent mehr Biogas als bisherige Systeme. Eine Brennstoffzelle verstromt das Gas effizient.