North Germany's first "Closed Carbon Loop“ facility opens

The "Closed Carbon Loop" project aims to convert filtered carbon dioxide into methane, according to HAW Hamburg. And the process is CO2-neutral. The combustion of the methane produced releases as much carbon dioxide as the plant has previously extracted from the atmosphere. The methane produced could then be used, e.g., in a combined heat and power plant or in shipping to generate electricity and heat climate-neutrally. Prof. Dr. Hans Schäfers, Deputy Head of the Competence Centre Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (CC4E) at the Energy Campus Bergedorf, said: "A wide variety of technologies in the field of closed carbon cycles and negative CO2 emissions is needed to achieve climate neutrality by 2045."

"Solutions such as the closed carbon loop can decisively advance the energy transition," said Katharina Fegebank, Senator for Science while Jens Kerstan, Senator for the.Environment, said Hamburg must be made "smart, climate-friendly and resilient to the consequences of climate change using new technologies". He added: "I very much hope that this technology can also be used on a large scale in the near future. That would be a contribution from Hamburg to the global efforts for more climate protection that can hardly be underestimated." 

The Closed Carbon Loop project is part of the X-Energy partnership funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research, in which HAW Hamburg seeks to develop solutions for transforming the electricity system with 16 regional and supraregional corporate partners. CC4E plays an important role therein and is morphing into  "a major player in research into new renewable energies", said Fegebank.

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