ANNUAL REPORT 2019 DIRECTIONS Schkeuditzer Kreuz 15 A 14 A14 Leipzig- By train: to Leipzig main station. Take tram Messegelände line 3/3 E (towards Taucha/Sommerfeld) as 6 Leipzig-Mitte 23 16 24 far as the Bautzner Strasse stop. Cross over 2 Leipzig- Nordost the road, passing the car park on the right, A 9 25 and turn right through gate number 116, after approximately 100 metres turn left, the DBFZ 26 entrance is 60 metres further along on the left- 17 181 Hauptbahnhof 6 ANNUAL REPORT Leipzig- hand side. Leipzig-West Ost LEIPZIG 186 By car: on the A 14 motorway. Exit at Leipzig Nord-Ost; follow signs for Taucha; then follow signs for Leipzig; then follow signs for Zentrum, 2 Innenstadt. Turn off left after the “bft” filling 87 2019 station (see “By train” for further directions). Leipzig-Südwest 29 Leipzig-Süd 32 By tram: line 3/3 E towards Taucha/Sommer- Leipzig- feld; Bautzner Strasse stop (see “By train” for A 38 31 Südost further directions). 2 Table of contents 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Preface by the ­management ..................................................................... 4 10 Contract research and science-based services .................................... 104 10.1 Policy recommendations and advice ......................................................... 106 2 Our mission statement ............................................................................ 6 10.2 Market analyses and data provision ......................................................... 109 10.3 Technical, economic and environmental assessment ............................. 111 3 The year 2019 in figures ........................................................................ 10 10.4 Concept and process development and optimisation .............................. 114 10.5 Scientific support for R&D projects ........................................................... 116 4 Modern heating systems in the concert of renewables ............................. 12 10.6 Knowledge and technology transfer .......................................................... 119 5 Highlights of the research focus areas .................................................... 22 11 Technical and scientific services ........................................................ 120 5.1 Systemic Contribution of Biomass .................................................................. 24 5.2 Anaerobic Processes ....................................................................................... 31 12 Research infrastructure ..................................................................... 126 5.3 Biobased Products and Fuels ........................................................................ 40 5.4 SmartBiomassHeat ......................................................................................... 49 13 Organisation ..................................................................................... 130 5.5 Catalytic Emission Control .............................................................................. 58 13.1 Construction work ....................................................................................... 132 13.2 Research departments .............................................................................. 134 6 Cooperation and networks ..................................................................... 66 13.3 Supervisory Board and Research Advisory Council .................................. 135 13.4 Finance and personell ................................................................................ 140 7 Press and public relations ...................................................................... 72 13.5 Boards, advisory councils and committees .............................................. 145 8 Executive Support Team ......................................................................... 80 14 Projects and publications .................................................................. 154 9 Doctoral programme ............................................................................. 94 4 Preface by the management Preface by the management 5 1 PREFACE BY THE MAN AGEMENT Dear Reader, In the field of environmental, climate and resource protection, Germany has at times been at the forefront of international comparison and has set new stand- ards. Against the background of the current climate protection debate, the aim is now once again to achieve environmentally compatible development. The estab- lishment of a renewable energy system and a functioning bioeconomy are central elements in this process. As a research institute for the energetic and integrated material use of biomass, it is our declared goal to support the path towards a climate-neutral society with the necessary scientific contributions. Against this background, we are pleased to be a member of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) since 2019. One of the aims of the European research alliance is to support joint technology development. In addition to expertise in the field of bioenergy, our membership also complements the EERA portfolio with the “Smart Bioenergy” concept we have developed. A large number of activities have shaped the past year. One highlight was once again our new building. After moving into the office building, the new technical centre is also scheduled to follow in 2020. We would like to thank the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, which financed the new building with around 67 million euros (including initial equipment). In this context, we had the pleasure of welcoming Minister President Michael Kretschmer and Federal Minister Julia Klöckner at the DBFZ in June. Both showed great interest and enthusiasm for the development of the building and its contents. In addition to our shareholder, we would also like to thank the Supervisory Board, 1 the Research Advisory Council, the project management agencies and all our pro- ject partners. We highly appreciate your intensive cooperation and your valuable input and hope for a good cooperation in 2020! Prof. Dr. mont. Michael Nelles Daniel Mayer Scientific Managing Director Administrative Managing Director 6 Our mission statement Our mission statement 7 2 OUR MISSION STATEMENT – stock.adobe.com © mindscanner Our research is a key to a climate-neutral society by 2050 at the latest, when closed carbon cycles in the bioeconomy will have replaced the fossil economy. MISSION ▪ We conduct applied research and development. ▪ We research and evaluate technologies for the energetic and integrated material use of biogenic resources. ▪ Our results enable innovations for sustainably established products and services on the market to ensure a rapid transformation into a climate-neutral society. ▪ Our findings contribute to rural development, which is the starting point for the bioeconomy. ▪ We are guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)1 of the United Nations. 2 ▪ Our research addresses actors from science, politics, economy and society with regard to bioenergy, bioeconomy and climate-neutral supply systems. ▪ We network with our partners at home and abroad and share our knowledge with them. 1 www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals 8 Our mission statement Our mission statement 9 © Countrypixel – stock.adobe.com PHILOSOPHY ▪ To fulfil our mission, we are constantly developing our dedicated employees, our interdisciplinary expertise and our outstanding research infrastructure. ▪ As an independent federal research institution, we provide scientifically sound bases for decision-making and initiate and design research strategies. ▪ We support young scientists by supervising bachelor, master and doctoral theses. ▪ Our employees benefit from a broad continuing education programme. ▪ We support our employees in spin-offs and start-ups. ▪ We attach great importance to the compatibility of career and family. ▪ With the aim of continuous improvement, we regularly consult an international research advisory council and a cross-departmental supervisory board from federal and state ministries. ▪ We constantly optimise our processes with the quality management system ISO 9001 and along the guidelines for ensuring good scientific practice. ▪ We aim to achieve climate-neutral operations by 2030 at the latest. (As per March 2020) 2 10 The year 2019 in figures The year 2019 in figures 11 Approx. 234,000 € 3 AVERAGE PROJECT VOLUME THE YEAR 2019 of the projects started in 2019 248 EMPLOYEES (as per 31 December IN FIGURES 2019) 50 FINISHED PROJECTS 37 NEW STARTED PROJECTS 29 market and third party funding projects EVENTS (trade fairs, conferences, public events) 131 WORKED PROJECTS 37 3 VISITORS AT THE DBFZ 53 (thereof 16 international) PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS (thereof 26 open access) 12 Modern heating systems in the concert of renewables Modern heating systems in the concert of renewables 13 4 MODERN HEATING SYSTEMS IN THE CONCERT The energy transition essentially depends on the success of the heat transition. Today, just under 90 % of renewable heat comes from biomass, which covers around 11 % of Germany’s total heat requirements. Although biomass can be OF RENEWABLES stored, it is a scarce and much sought-after commodity. Against this background, the almost complete energy supply by renewable energies that the EU and Ger- many are aiming for by 2050 will primarily use ambient heat, waste heat, solar thermal energy and heat from surplus electricity. In addition, efficiency measures will significantly reduce heat requirements (50–60 %) and link electricity, heat and mobility more