{"id":1795,"date":"2023-03-31T13:26:03","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T11:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orbit-projekt.de\/?page_id=1795"},"modified":"2025-05-06T14:09:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T12:09:15","slug":"elementor-1795","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/orbit-projekt.de\/?page_id=1795&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Information on the project"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Overall objective of the ORBIT II project<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The aim of the project is to expand a trickle-bed bioreactor (ORBIT demo) for biological methanation with archaea to include an electrolyzer, gas processing and gas storage, including the necessary peripherals. A PEM electrolyzer will be specially adapted and extensively tested for this purpose. New glass-based packing materials are being developed, manufactured and investigated for use in the bioreactor. Parallel to the investigations in ORBIT-Demo, a twin is being built on a 5 L scale for further investigations. The overall ORBIT-Demo plant is operated with various bio- or waste gases from industrial processes as CO2 sources. Methanogenic cultures suitable for the different gases and achieving high conversion rates will be identified. Finally, the plant will be integrated and operated as a field test at the wastewater treatment plant in Pfaffenhofen a. d. Ilm.<\/p>\n

Potential locations for PtG plants with biological methanisation in Germany are identified and evaluated using various quality criteria. Based on the results of ORBIT-Twin and ORBIT-Demo, an upscale of the plant (ORBIT-Industry) is planned and designed for one of the identified industrial sectors.<\/p>\n

The project is a direct continuation of the BMWK-funded project „ORBIT“ („Optimisation of a trickle bed bioreactor for the dynamic microbial biosynthesis of methane with archaea in power-to-gas plants“). The system integration and cost reduction of power-to-gas plants as well as the use of biogenic waste materials (waste gases) as educt gases for methanation are the overarching goals of the interdisciplinary consortium.
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Subprojects and research objectives of the project partners<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  • Regensburg University of Applied Sciences (OTH Regensburg)<\/strong>: Expansion and optimization of a trickle bed bioreactor and its operation with various industrial gases<\/li>
  • Friedrich-Alexander Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg<\/strong>: Conceptual design and operation of a 5-Litres trickle bed reactor, test support and evaluation of ORBIT demo as well as design and upscaling of a PtG plant<\/li>
  • Univeristy of Regensburg<\/strong>: Microbiological investigation of suitable cultures and co-cultures for biological methanation in a trickle bed bioreactor<\/li>
  • ostermeier H2ydrogen Solutions GmbH<\/strong>: Modification of a PEM electrolyzer for its coupling with a trickle bed bioreactor and for the extraction of oxygen for the oxygen supply of biological systems<\/li>
  • Schott AG<\/strong>: Development and production of glass packing elements for use in a trickle bed bio-reactor<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Project progress<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Background information and problem statement<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The phasing out of fossil fuels and raw materials has long been a done deal throughout Europe. Germany has set itself the goal of decarbonizing the country by 2050. This includes increasing energy efficiency in all sectors and expanding renewable energies which primarily means adding wind and solar power plants. This means that renewable electricity becomes primary energy which in contrast to fossil primary energy is of a fluctuating nature. Due to these fluctuations, both temporary and local balancing between energy generation and consumption is necessary.<\/p>

    Power-to-gas (PtG) technology can solve this problem. By converting electricity into hydrogen and then methane, the energy can be easily stored for long periods of time. Local balancing can be done by using the existing gas infrastructure in Germany. Accordingly, PtG can be used for long-term storage and utilize already existing infrastructure even in a future decarbonized energy system. In addition to current regulatory issues, there are also other obstacles that currently stand in the way of rolling out the technology. Many stakeholders do not know if the integration of a PtG plant is technically possible and reasonable within their operations which presents an enormous hurdle for the implementation of such a project. In the field of biological methanation, especially with the use of trickle bed reactors, there are very few projects or plants that already located in the industrial environment. Accordingly, there are also few companies with experience in this field.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    01\/2025<\/div><\/div>
    <\/i><\/div>
    <\/div>
    Relocation of ORBIT-Demo to Pfaffenhofen<\/div>
    \"ORBIT<\/div>

    In the 3rd week of January 2025, the ORBIT-Demo PtG system was successfully transported from Reegensburg to the wastewater treatment plant of Stadtwerke Pfaffenhofen and integrated into the infrastructure there.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    10\/2024<\/div><\/div>
    <\/i><\/div>
    <\/div>
    3rd ORBIT workshop<\/div>

    On 10 October 2024, the third workshop as part of the ORBIT II project was held at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    09\/2024<\/div><\/div>
    <\/i><\/div>
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    Refilling with glass packing<\/div>
    \"Die<\/div>

    On 3 September 2024, the methanation reactor was refilled with the glass packing specially developed and manufactured by SCHOTT for the project.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    06\/2024<\/div><\/div>
    <\/i><\/div>
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    Reactor inoculated<\/div>
    \"Katja<\/div>

    The ORBIT II research facility ORBIT-Demo enters the next phase: On 11 June 2024, the archaea successfully moved into the reactor!
    At the OTH, the reactor was inoculated with the new archaea strain by the University Regensburg. This marks the start of test operation.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    10\/2023<\/div><\/div>
    <\/i><\/div>
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    Second Workshop \"Advances in biological methanation: Microbes as game changers for a sustainable future\" carried out<\/div>
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    As part of the ORBIT II project experts in the field of methanation gathered at the University Regensburg from October 5th to 6th, 2023 for the interdisciplinary workshop \u201cAdvances in biological methanation: Microbes as game changers for a sustainable future \u201c.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    01\/2023<\/div><\/div>
    <\/i><\/div>
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    Delivery of the electrolysis<\/div>
    \"Anja<\/div>

    On January 10th 2023 the adapted PEM electrolysis of Ostermeier H2ydrogen Solutions GmbH was transported to the OTH Regensburg and integrated into the test container.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    11\/2022<\/div><\/div>
    <\/i><\/div>
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    First Workshop \"Renewable Gas \u2013 The Forgotten Energy Source\" carried out<\/div>
    \"Prof.<\/div>

    On November 21st 2022, the first of three workshops within the ORBIT II project was held at OTH Regensburg under the title \u201cRenewable Gas \u2013 The Forgotten Energy Carrier\u201d. At the peak, more than 70 people gathered information on the topic of power-to-gas during 10 exciting presentations.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    01.12.2021<\/div>
    Project launch<\/div><\/div>
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    Project launch ORBIT II<\/div>
    \"Aufgrund<\/div>

    Within the framework of ORBIT II, ten partners are working on the development and the industrial use of a power-to-gas plant and thus on the future of the German hydrogen economy. The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) is funding the project with 1.8 million euros over the course of 3 years.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    12\/2020<\/div>
    Project completetion<\/div><\/div>
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    Project completetion of ORBIT<\/div>

    After the successful field test in Ibbenb\u00fchren and a final relocation of the plant to Regensburg, the ORBIT project comes to an end on December 31st 2020. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    10\/2020<\/div><\/div>
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    ORBIT reactor goes online in the Tecklenburg region<\/div>
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    The methanation plant from ORBIT is officially commissioned in Ibbenb\u00fcren as a supplement to the power-to-gas plant operated by Westenergie since 2015. The Federal Minister of Education and Research Anja Karliczek and Andreas Feicht, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, traveled to the event.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    06\/2020<\/div><\/div>
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    ORBIT is considered a \"Highlight Project\" in the 2020 Federal Report on Energy Research<\/div>

    We are pleased to be part of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy's (BMWi) 2020 Energy Research report.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    05\/2019<\/div>
    Project milestone<\/div><\/div>
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    Official launch for the test run of the bioreactor<\/div>
    \"Dr.<\/div>

    Following successful technical testing at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, archaea can now be inoculated for the first time and the conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen to methane can be tested.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    03\/2019<\/div>
    Project milestone<\/div><\/div>
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    Relocation of the reactor to Regensburg<\/div>
    \"ORBIT-Rieselbettreaktor<\/div>

    The ORBIT trickle bed reactor for biological methanation was dismantled in Nuremberg and successfully transported to its new location in Regensburg. It is now available for commissioning and further trial operation.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    01.07.2017<\/div>
    Project launch<\/div><\/div>
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    Project launch ORBIT<\/div>
    \"(von<\/div>

    Funding for the ORBIT joint project will begin on July 1, 2017 and run for 3 years. The project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy with 1 million euros, focuses on biological methanation in which microorganisms are used to produce \"green\" methane that can be fed into the grid. The project is characterized by its holistic approach to solving the issues: biologists, process engineers, energy engineers, plant engineers and users are working hand in hand.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

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