Using integrated experimental and modelling approaches, FLEXIBI studies the potential of residues from agri– and horticulture, gardening and landscaping, as well as from post-consumer wood from peri-urban and urban areas as feedstocks for Small-Scale Flexi-Feed Biorefineries (SFB). FLEXIBI evaluates the potential of these biogenic residues and their mixtures for production of bio-based materials and local energy generation via different biorefinery processes. The use of biomass from different feedstocks will allow the use of local and all-year available feedstocks to limit transportation and logistics issues while promoting local production of high value compounds, soil improvers and energy. FLEXIBI aims at designing a decision support tool assessing the different pathway for the establishment of SFBs by evaluating all parameters accounting to find sustainable solutions. Quantitative process modelling and knowledge engineering approaches are used to set-up the tool and value-creation oriented schemes for under-valorised residue-based bioresources. These will be used to support the SFB design on regional/local level .

In Europe, urban organic waste is projected to reach 96 Million Mg in 2020. Its management is challenging. Efficient processes are important to create higher value products. DECISIVE investigates decentralised management with an focus on anaerobic digestion combined with biogas and digestate utilization. Decentral approaches are beneficial e.g. in terms of lower collection needs, higher flexibility, system resilence, citizens involvement, and local employment.

Im Verbundprojekt - KREIS soll in Zusammenarbeit mit wissenschaftlichen Einrichtungen und Praxispartnern aus ganz Deutschland ein neues Entwässerungskonzept, der HAMBURG WATER Cycle® in einem Neubaugebiet in Hamburg verwirklicht werden. Zukunftsweisend sollen neue Wege der Abwasserentsorgung in Verbindung mit regenerativer Energiegewinnung aufgezeigt werden. Der Verbund wird von der Bauhaus-Universität-Weimar (BUW) und der Hamburger Stadtentwässerung (HSE) koordiniert. Die Gruppe Biokonversion und Emissionsminderung (BIEM) des Instituts für Abwasserwirtschaft und Gewässerschutz befasst sich mit der energetischen und stofflichen Nutzung des Schwarzwassers einschließlich der Inventur regional verfügbarer Co-Substrate.

The North Sea region is an area of intensive farming characterised by rapid soil degradation. Therefore, the demand for soilimprovers such as quality composts for these intensively utilised soils exist. Barriers to meet this urgent need of soil improvement are a lack of suitable and stabilized soil amendments, the absence of an alignment in demands and risks in European and national regulations, and a lack of information. The project involves researchers, compost and horticultural producers and regional authorities from five North Sea Region countries—Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, and United Kingdom—to study local, regional, and trans-European needs and barriers. SOILCOM aims to improve the transformation of waste to quality compost, and its application to support carbon storage, water and nutrient use efficiency, productivity of horticultural and compost enterprises, and pesticide reduction. Furthermore it aims to support EU policy on circular economy.