News
19 June 2026
As part of an Erasmus+ teaching mobility programme, Prof. Dr Christian Abendroth, chair of the Circular Economy research group, visited Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) in Georgia. There, as part of the ‘Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology’ degree programme, he gave lectures on the topic of ‘Microbiomes in the Circular Economy’ and discussed current approaches to the circular economy, resource recovery and anaerobic Biotechnology with students. The visit strengthened academic exchange between BTU and TSU and lays an important foundation for further international cooperation in research and teaching.
18 June 2026
As part of the international Waste2Wealth project, researchers from the chair of Circular Economy at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, together with partners, have opened a technology showroom in Georgia dedicated to the sustainable utilisation of agricultural residues. At its heart is a modular demonstration concept developed jointly by inter3 and BTU, which presents technologies ranging from biomass processing through composting and pelletisation to biogas production in a practical setting. The showroom strengthens international knowledge transfer in the field of circular economy and demonstrates how BTU’s research findings can be translated into concrete applications for a sustainable bioeconomy. Further information on the project can be found via the links below:
https://www.inter3.de/aktuelles/details/waste2wealth-demo-container-eroeffnet
12 June 2026
As part of the WeMetBio2 collaborative project, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is involved in the development of a demonstration plant for biological methanisation – the only one of its kind in Germany – the construction of which has recently been approved and commissioned. At the annex, renewable hydrogen will be converted, together with CO₂ from a biogas plant, into climate-friendly methane by microorganisms. The project makes an important contribution to the storage of renewable energy and to the decarbonisation of the energy and transport sectors. The Agency for Renewable Resources recently reported on the progress of the “WeMetBio2” project: https://bioenergie.fnr.de/service/forschung-live/demonstrationsanlage-zur-biologischen-methanisierung
21 May 2026
The WeMetBio2 research project has reached two important milestones with the granting of planning permission and the awarding of the contract to construct the demonstration annex in Nordhackstedt. The annex is based on the biological trickle-bed process for methanisation, developed jointly by and the GICON Group, and is designed to use surplus energy from wind and solar power plants to produce ‘green’ methane. The e-methane produced can be stored and distributed within the existing natural gas network, thereby offering a means of long-term storage for fluctuating renewable energies. At the same time, CO₂ streams are utilised as a raw material and process heat is provided. The project is being implemented jointly by Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, the GICON Group and Nissen Biogas GmbH & Co. KG. The BTU is providing scientific support for the project and is investigating, in particular, the ecological and systemic integration of the technology into regional energy networks. Commissioning of Germany’s first plant of this scale is scheduled for the end of 2026. In addition to the demonstration operation, extensive insights into energy efficiency, CO₂ accounting and the integration of electricity, gas and heating systems are to be gained. The technology also opens up new prospects for existing biogas and wind power plants outside the scope of EEG subsidies and can contribute to reducing fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions.
1 April 2026
Together with project partner inter3, the chair for Circular Economy visited the biogas plant operated by e.dis therm in Sembten at the beginning of April. e.dis therm is supporting the Waste2Wealth project (https://www.b-tu.de/waste2wealth) by providing video footage, which is being used as teaching material to facilitate knowledge transfer between Germany and Georgia. The chair would like to thank e.dis therm for granting access to the biogas plant and for providing the photos shown here. Special thanks go to Ms Nadine Hartnick for her coordination and to Mr Frank Häsler for his role as video presenter. We would also like to thank the film team at the inter3 Institute. The video material produced is currently being compiled by our partner inter3 into a virtual learning course, which is also set to be used in teaching at the BTU in future with the help of the “Lernhaus” learning software.
04 February 2026
In July 2025, the new project "Bio-hydrometallurgical recovery of precious and valuable metals as secondary materials and associated reduction of CO2" was approved by the respective fundig agency. The chairs of Process and Plant Engineering and Circular Economy are working together at BTU on a demonstration plant that investigates metal recycling in combination with CO2 fixation by litotrophic microorganisms. The project was announced at the beginning of 2026 via a press release from BTU: https: //www.b-tu.de/news/artikel/30584-bio-bergbau-aus-der-lausitz-btu-entwickelt-recyclingverfahren-mit-bakterien-und-co2
Shortly afterwards, press releases were also issued by RBB and Lausitzer Rundschau: