Fraunhofer Alliance SysWater: Expertise times 14
The Fraunhofer Alliance SysWater pools the expertise of 14 Fraunhofer Institutes to carry out research and development work in the field of sustainable water infrastructure systems and technologies. The participating institutes include the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) in Karlsruhe and the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) in Stuttgart, which the Green Talents will visit. In the area of environmental technology, the Fraunhofer IGB is developing efficient process technologies for water and wastewater treatment and for the generation of biogas from organic waste materials as well as conducting research on technologies for the sustainable production of high-value products and energy using aquatic microalgae.
DEUS 21 (DEcentralized Urban infrastructure System): Pilot project in municipal water management
Overfilled megacities without adequate water supply and wastewater disposal, frequent floods or extreme drought – these are problems that can be addressed with the help of a new urban water infrastructure system. In order to use water more efficiently, the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) in Stuttgart and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) in Karlsruhe have developed a unique municipal water management concept. The pilot project DEUS 21 (DEcentralized Urban infrastructure System), which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, is being realized in a housing estate in Knittlingen (Baden-Württemberg). Advanced technologies guarantee an environmentally-friendly, sustainable and cost-efficient operation of the water infrastructure. A water storage pipe system collects rainwater and turns it into “service water”. This water can not just be used for household chores such as in the washing machine, but also for bathing and showering. In addition, the researchers have developed a special treatment plant for domestic wastewater and organic kitchen waste. The organic wastewater components can be turned into biogas. In addition to the two Fraunhofer Institutes, the Institute for Environmental Engineering (ISA) of RWTH Aachen University and nine industry partners are involved in the DEUS 21 project. The DEUS 21 concept is also being applied internationally.
