To enable successful co-creation opportunities and develop key partnerships, the European Innovation Council (EIC), within the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Programme, invites all EIC-funded beneficiaries to apply to our joint EIC GHG Co-creation initiative with the Sachsen-Anhalt Region. The intention is to pinpoint innovative solutions that can help address pivotal climate-related topics in the region.

Located in the centre of Germany, the region of Sachsen-Anhalt, together with Landesenergieagentur Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH (LENA) – the body commissioned by the state of Sachsen-Anhalt, aims to advance when it comes to energy transition and climate protection. The purpose behind it is to support the preservation of resources and the base of life for future generations through active climate protection and the increase of energy efficiency as elements of the provision of public services. Via these activities, the intention is to also trigger economic impulses for increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies, plus initiate, promote and support model projects and joint projects (more about their challenges below). This co-creation journey with Sachsen-Anhalt Region kicks off with an event on 21, 22 & 23 June 2022. To find more information about the co-creation process and timeline, we invite you to keep reading.

Tell us why you are the right co-creator and join this collaborative journey.  Applications are open here until 29 April 2022. 

 

Why should you join the EIC GHG Co-creation initiative?   

• Explore how your solutions and capabilities can be sustainable  
• Network and collaborate with Sachsen-Anhalt Region, and like-minded innovators   
• Build a roadmap of market entry with Sachsen-Anhalt Region   
• Closely work with partners on solutions that can best fit the market   
• Find potential partners and customers in the industry  
• Get access to experts from the EIC  

 

Challenges  

Sachsen-Anhalt Region is looking for innovative approaches that can help with the improvement of certain topics to further cement the energy transition and their journey towards sustainability. More specifically, they are looking for solutions for the following matters:  

 

Challenge 1 – Improving the regional district heating system

Sub-challenge 1.1 – Extension of district heating systems by decoupling of low-heat small district heating systems  

District heating systems can be found in wide parts of the cities in Germany, especially in the area of the new states. To reduce GHG-emissions in the heating of buildings gas and oil infrastructure will have to be substituted. Therefore, the existing district heating must be extended. To extend the district heating system, they need solutions to tackle the following points:  

• Develop a modular station to connect existing district heating with around 80°C to a to be built low-heat small district system
• Flexibility in positioning and scalability of the system
• Integration of large heat pumps
• Readiness for renewable electricity production to feed the large heat pump and the heat storage
• Possibility of integration of a heat storage as a buffer in case of low/no electricity

Sub-challenge 1.2 – Process heat utilization from a chip manufacturer to support a heating network 

The company Intel has recently chosen the capital of Sachsen-Anhalt, Magdeburg, for two new chip fabrication sites. This investment is the largest in Germany and Europe as part of the European Chips Act, it encompasses 17 billion €. The production process is highly energy-and water-intensive and produces excessive heat, which should be reused. So far there are no known experiences with the reusage of energy from chip manufacturing, but especially from the clean rooms’ ventilation as well as from the wastewater heat can potentially be won. They are looking for innovative solutions to:

• Extract process heat and integrate it into the local heat network, e.g. by using small low-heat networks

 

Challenge 2 – Circularity and environmental impact in the industrial production

Sub-challenge 2.1 – Recycling of industrial scrap in the production of fire protection walls. James Hardie Europe GmbH/Aestuver Werk Calbe

Fire protection walls are made of fibre cement cladding. During the production process cementitious panel residues and sanding dust accumulate in the production facility. Currently there is no option to recycle this production waste directly in the manufacturing facility and it is currently landfilled. Jamie Hardies’ Aestuver Werk Calbe is looking for innovative solutions to:  

• Sort mixed industrial scrap, which includes among other things cement and different lightweight aggregates, into different valuable waste stream to enable reuse

Sub-challenge 2.2 – Reducing environmental impact of fire protection boards’ drying. James Hardie Europe GmbH/Aestuver Werk Calbe

The last step in the production of fire protection boards is drying. Currently, the boards are dried using gas burners and heat from combined heat and power (CHP). This process is extremely energy-intensive. To reduce the environmental footprint and the GHG emissions of this industry, James Hardie Europe GmbH is looking for innovative solutions that could reduce energy consumption by, e.g.:

• Increasing the energy-efficiency of gas burners and reducing the gas consumption
• Increasing the energy-efficiency of CHP
• Recycling of exhaust heat
• Developing New cost-efficient and sustainable drying solutions

 

Challenge 3 – Usage of anthropogenic aquifer storage as heat reservoirs

In the Mansfeld-Südharz district, there are countless pits that have been filled with mine water (anthropogenic aquifers) over the course of centuries of mining tradition. These aquifers are distributed throughout the district and, according to initial studies, are ideal for usage as heat reservoirs. More than 130,000 people live in the region, a large part of which could be supplied with environmentally friendly GHG-neutral heat via such heat storage facilities. They are looking for innovative solutions that:

• Recover the heat stored in the mine waters and convey it into a district heating system. The main challenge here is to find a solution that can deal with the high salinity level of these waters, either by means of desalination technologies or by using highly-corrosion-resistant material in the pipes.

 

Challenge 4 – Usage of sewage sludge for biogas production 

In the Mansfeld-Südharz district, a large number of small sewage treatment plants exist in addition to the sewage treatment plants connected to the large towns due to the topographical conditions. Both applications could produce GHG-neutral biogas through fermentation processes. In order to improve the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants in the region, they are looking for cost-efficient and energy-efficient solutions to: 

• Produce biogas from sewage sludge fermentation to generate heat for the wastewater treatment process. The solution has to be modular and scalable to be implementable in small, medium and large scale.

 

Your co-creation journey  

The EIC GHG Co-creation with Sachsen-Anhalt Region is an entirely virtual service following the journey below.   

 

Step 1: Applications and info webinar   

To apply to the EIC GHG Co-creation with Sachsen-Anhalt Region, you are invited to fill out the application form available here by 29 April 2022.   

During the application process, an info webinar (19 April 2022, from 10:00 to 12:00 CET) will be organised to provide more information about the co-creation initiative, the application requirements, and challenges. If you wish to attend this info webinar, please register here. In addition, you can check the agenda of the info webinar here.  

*Please note that your registration to the info webinar does not imply that you will be selected for the co-creation initiative with Sachsen-Anhalt Region.   

 

Step 2: Selection process   

As soon as we close the submission process, your application will be shared with Sachsen-Anhalt Region. Then, we will proceed with the evaluation and selection of the final list of participants. You will be contacted once the selection process is completed. Also, please note that any feedback or recommendation to the companies that were not selected won't be foreseen.  

 

Step 3: Co-creation training – 14th & 15th June I Save the date!   

Successful and confirmed participants will be invited to join a co-creation training in which you will be briefed into more detail about the co-creation process and encouraged to undergo pitching training to prepare your pitches for the kick-off.  

 

Step 4: Co-creation kick-off event – 21st, 22nd & 23rd June | Save the date!   

After the selection process, a two-day ideation event with Sachsen-Anhalt Region will take place on 22 & 23 June 2022. It will help you better understand the challenges and start co-developing your solutions with the business partner. During this meeting, you will also have the chance to define a clear roadmap with your next steps.  

 

Step 5: Iteration & development   

You will have four months to implement the roadmap defined with Sachsen-Anhalt Region and can validate it regularly to ensure you are steering in the right direction. The business facilitators and experts will provide you with the necessary support along the way.   

 

Step 6: GHG Summit | Autumn 2022  

The GHG Summit will be a way of showcasing success stories developed in close collaboration among business partners and EIC beneficiaries.  

 

Additional Information  

About Landesenergieagentur Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH (LENA) 

The Landesenergieagentur Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH (LENA) is the body commissioned by the state of Sachsen-Anhalt to advance energy transition and climate protection in the state of Sachsen-Anhalt. The company fulfils its tasks and purpose in a product- and supplier-neutral manner, without the intention of making profit. Its articles of association prohibit taking an active role in the domestic market for energy services or climate protection. To fulfil its tasks, the company receives annual institutional funding from the state.

 

About the EIC Business Acceleration Services     

This opportunity is brought to you by the EIC Business Acceleration Services. To explore other opportunities to connect with the largest corporates in Europe, keep an eye on our events page.       

 

About the EIC GHG Programme     

With the EIC GHG programme, part of the Business Acceleration Services, the EIC offers its beneficiaries a dedicated GHG tool, the GHG Badges & CO2 Neutral Label initiative, and further resources.  

In addition, co-creation activities with corporates, industrial associations, regions in carbon transition and other EIC beneficiaries are taking place on a regular basis.      

 

Need help?  

For additional information, please refer to our helpdesk (please choose ‘EIC GHG: Co-creation with Sachsen-Anhalt Region’ as the subject).