Mannheim, Germany – March 24, 2025 – The POSEIDON project proudly took stage at the inauguration of the “Mannheim 001” production facility, a groundbreaking event held at the Mannheim sewage treatment plant. This innovative facility, dedicated to the production of e-methanol, was developed through the collaborative efforts of the Mannheim climate technology startup ICODOS GmbH, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and the municipal drainage operation (EBS) Mannheim. The project received co-financing from the city of Mannheim and ESA BIC Baden-Württemberg.

The event aimed to showcase this unique facility, which produces e-methanol by converting CO₂ from biogas obtained from wastewater at the Mannheim sewage treatment plant. This process utilizes hydrogen, ideally produced through electrolysis powered by green electricity. The pilot plant, developed by ICODOS and patented by KIT, is the first of its kind worldwide. It features an integrated process that seamlessly converts sewage gas into e-methanol, which can be used as ship fuel.

Prominent speakers, including Federal Minister for Digital and Transport Dr. Volker Wissing, along with other representatives from politics, science, and industry, attended the event. Their speeches highlighted the groundbreaking nature of this project, emphasizing that this facility is the first in the world to convert sewage gas from wastewater into e-methanol through an integrated process. The speakers underscored the importance of this technology in not only reducing emissions but also creating real value from waste materials. With Mannheim as the pilot location, the event demonstrated that the transformation of shipping can become a reality today.

In her keynote address, Dr. Andrea Robitzki, head of the Biology, Chemistry, and Process Engineering department at KIT, introduced the POSEIDON project. She highlighted the collaboration between ICODOS and KIT, both key members of the POSEIDON project. The current plant, Mannheim 001, produces small quantities of about 50 liters of methanol per day. The POSEIDON project, co-funded by the EU and involving 19 project partners from 7 countries, aims to build a larger facility that will produce 15 times more methanol. This new facility will be tested in collaboration with EDF, a French multinational electric utility company, at the EDF site Les Renardières near Paris, with an expected delivery date of the end of 2026. Our team at the POSEIDON project is proud to see the potential and utility of our work acknowledged on such a distinguished stage.

This project paves the road for future large-scale production of e-methanol at other sewage treatment plants worldwide, and especially in the port of Valencia in the frame of the biogas use case developed within the POSEIDON project. It highlights the promising market for climate-neutral fuel from Mannheim and the potential of e-methanol as a CO₂-neutral fuel for shipping, promoting sustainable maritime transport. The POSEIDON project is not just about technological innovation; it is about creating a sustainable future and setting a precedent for the global energy transition. By leveraging local value chains and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, we are paving the way for the widespread adoption of e-methanol, thereby contributing significantly to the EU’s Green Deal goals and the broader fight against climate change.

For more insights and coverage, check out the articles and videos by the German press available at the following links:

So entsteht Schiffstreibstoff aus Abwasser in der Mannheimer Kläranlage

Mannheimer Start-up gewinnt Schiffstreibstoff aus Abwasser