The ideas and results developed in Clean Circles have high transfer potential in politics, business and society. In addition, measures of science communication are jointly developed to inform a broad public about the goals, methods and results of the project.

Knowledge transfer

Cooperation with the GIZ (German Corporation for International Cooperation)

The GIZ advises on energy policy issues worldwide, with a particular focus on renewable energies, and can draw on years of contacts in Morocco and its own office in Rabat. The findings of Clean Circles are to be discussed and evaluated with GIZ.

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LandesEnergieAgentur Hessen and Extremadura Energy Agency (Spain)

The LandesEnergieAgentur Hessen will support Clean Circles together with the Extremadura Energy Agency (Spain) in assessing the transfer potential in Spain. Not least through the joint EU project FIRESPOL, both have experience in the acquisition and use of EU structural funds.

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DLR Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes

One focus of the cooperation witht the DLR is the direct reduction of iron oxide with synthesis gas and pure hydrogen, for example in the steel industry. The knowledge gained in Clean Circles will contribute to scaling up more accurately: from laboratory to real plant sizes.

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News & Media

Video: Retrofitting existing infrastructures

One aspect of the energy transformation is now coming into focus: the climate neutral retrofitting of existing infrastructures – plants that often are designed to be in operation for decades. The aim of Clean Circles is to make these plants carbon free by retrofitting them. In this video project spokesperson Christian Hasse explains how that will work.

Video: Chemical energy carriers for the energy transition

TU Darmstadt sees research into the energy transition as a social mission. Research into the future energy systems is being carried out in numerous research groups. In addition to hydrogen, this also includes iron, whose climate-neutral oxidation and reduction enables a sustainable circular economy.

Position paper: “Stay open for a multitude of technology pathways”

More than 50 professors from leading German universities and non-university research institutions recommend a technology-neutral approach on the way to a global carbon-neutral energy system. A position paper by engineers from the Technical University of Darmstadt, the RWTH Aachen and the University of Duisburg-Essen focuses on the thermal utilisation of chemical energy carriers.

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hr-iNFO Wirtschaft, 27.01.2023

At the Technical University of Darmstadt, the HIGHEST start-up platform promotes scientific ideas and accompanies them until the start-up is founded. In interviews, researchers from TU projects and start-ups have their say in the hr-iNFO Wirtschaft podcast. Clean Circles spokesperson Christian Hasse explains approaches to using the idea of “iron as an energy carrier” via a so-called retrofitting to make it ready for the market.

(Podcast in German)

FAZ “Heißes Eisen für das Klima”

In der Technischen Universität Darmstadt arbeiten Forscher an einem nachhaltigen Energiekreislauf. Dazu müssten Kohlekraftwerke umgebaut und “grüner” Wasserstoff produziert werden. Eine Testanlage und Geld aus dem Exzellenzwettbewerb könnten das Vorhaben voranbringen.

Von Sascha Zoske

Artikel zum Download (PDF) (opens in new tab)

FAZ “Wie Eisenpulver zum Energiespeicher werden kann”

Artikel im FAZ Ressort Technik über gezieltes Verrosten von Wolfgang Kempkens
FAZ Online, 24.10.2022

3sat scobel “Notstand Energie”

Prof. Michèle Knodt diskutiert zusammen mit Kerstin Andreae, Andreas Löschel und dem Moderator Gert Scobel (scobel Sendung vom 01.09.2022 in der 3sat Mediathek)

“Eisen ist ein chemischer Energiespeicher wie Wasserstoff”

Prof. Christian Hasse im Interview mit SR 2 KulturRadio “Der Morgen” vom 21.07.2022

“Es wäre ein Notfallszenario”

TU-Professorin Michèle Knodt über die Auswirkungen eines Importstopps von Öl und Gas aus Russland. (Interview im Darmstädter Echo, 12. März 2022)

Eckpunkte einer anpassungsfähigen Wasserstoffstrategie

Podcast der Stiftung Energie & Klimaschutz mit Michèle Knodt und Lucas Flath, 19. Januar 2022

Zur Rolle von grünem Wasserstoff im Energiesystem

Hessenschau-Beitrag zum 20. Brennstoffzellenforum, 28. Oktober 2021

WDR 5 Quarks: Beitrag über Eisenpulver als Energiespeicher

In a radio report by WDR 5, the topic of iron powder as an emmision-free energy store is discussed. Prof. Andreas Dreizler from TU Darmstadt and scientists from the TU Eindhoven discuss the still open research questions and explain the basic principle behind the iron cycle. This is currently being investigated within the Clean Circles project funded by the state of Hesse at the TU Darmstadt and other participating partners. The podcast is in German.

hr-iNFO, February 2021

In the radio report by hr-iNFO, Prof. Christian Hasse and Prof. Andreas Dreizler report on current research efforts and perspectives in the field of chemical energy storage systems.

Darmstädter Echo, 23.03.2021

“Eisenpulver als Energiespeicher” (opens in new tab)

Südkurier, 2.12.2020

“Iron Fuel: Verbrennen wir bald Eisenpulver zur Energiegewinnung? Was kurios klingt, könnte ein Beitrag zur Energiewende sein”

Tagesspiegel, 16.11.2020

“Kleine Körnchen, große Wirkung: Wasserstoff? Nein, Eisen könnte Energieträger der Zukunft werden”