Current Projects
Photo2Fuel
The Photo2Fuel project is developing an innovative technology that converts CO2 into useful fuels and chemicals by non-photosynthetic bacteria in combination with organic chemistry materials, using only sunlight as an energy source. Photo2Fuel technology is based on the concept of artificial photosynthesis and uses a hybrid system of bacteria and organic photosensitizers to produce methane and acetic acid using the microbial strains Methanosarcina Barkeri and Moorella thermoacetica, respectively. These hybrid non-photosynthetic organisms with organic photosensitizers are housed in a self-sustaining photo-microreactor powered exclusively by sunlight. During the day, natural light and at night, artificial light from battery-stored solar energy serves for continuous operation. In addition, the photo-microreactor will contain a solar concentrator so that efficiency is maximized and fuel/chemical production is stable under varying solar irradiance. Photo2Fuel will also analyze technologies for separating the main products - acetic acid and methane - and provide solutions with high separation efficiency. Finally, the overall sustainability of Photo2Fuel technology will be analyzed, including environmental, economic and social aspects. In addition, the market as well as existing barriers and key stakeholders will be analyzed from the end-user perspective in order to achieve a further TRL increase after the completion of the project and to actively support the transition to a climate neutral Europe by 2050.
The role of the Technology Center for energy is to contribute microbial process engineering. Here, the long experience with methanogenic organisms is of particular importance for the success of the project. In addition to this central task, the focus is also on potential separation processes, technical design issues, the topic of battery (management) and scale-up, as well as support in project coordination and public relations.
Duration: 01.09.2022 - 31.08.2025
Volume: 2.5 Millionen €
Website: https://www.photo2fuel.eu/
Intellispin
ECOLE

ECOLE – ECO industrial park network for the Alpine Regions Leveraging smart and Circular Economy
Project goal:
Speeding-up the transition towards more circular and resource-efficient industries in the Alpine Region by establishing an integrated model for Eco Industrial Parks (EIP) applying the circular economy (CE) principles not only to the product value chain, but also to the support functions
Project partnership
- Consorzio ZAI Interporto Quadrante Europa (IT)
- Trieste Economic Development Agency (IT)
- Development agency Sora Ltd. (SI)
- Regional Development agency of the Slovenija (SI)
- Energy and Innovation centre of WEIZ (AT)
- Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland GmbH (AT)
- Landshut University of Applied Sciences (DE)
- Italian-German Chamber of Commerce (DE)
- Grenoble-Alps Metropole (FR)
- POLYMERIS (FR)
- Lombardy Foundation for the Environment (IT)
- TUM International GmbH (DE)
Project duration: 01.11.2022 - 31.10.2025
Volume: 2.5 mio Euro
Website: https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/ecole/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectecole/
This project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Alpine Space programme.
FB2-POLY
Energy for Industry
SpinnAP
ÖkoTroP
OMEI
OPTIBATT

Duration: 01.11.2019 - 31.10.2021
Lead-Partner: VARTA Microbattery GmbH
Dr. Martin Krebs
Project Partner: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co.KG
LACOM GmbH
Landshut University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule für
angewandte Wissenschaften Landshut)
Funding: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi)
Research funding in the 7th Energy
Research Program
Project Goal: Optimization of process technology in battery production
Project Description:
OPTIBATT develops process and measurement technology for faster and more cost-effective production of lithium-ion cells. This is being tested on a laboratory scale in the electrode and cell production of an ongoing pilot and assembly line and demonstrated in cells. OPTIBATT aims at reducing the potential for error in battery cell production. The lower reject rate significantly improves the economic efficiency and environmental compatibility of production processes
The production of battery slurries is done in batches, each size ranging from 150 kg up to 3 tons in commercial plants. The material value of such batches alone depends on the material and size of the batch, ranging from € 2,000 to € 40,000. Since the uselessness of a slurry can often only be detected during the cell's inspection at the end of the production chain, at best a week lies between the electrode casting and the product's final quality check. This allows faulty process parameters to remain during this time, continually exerting their fatal effect until the target deviation is detected.
The presence of an in-line measurement method will significantly reduce the risk of value loss in cell production. The added economic benefit of such a measurement method will be enormous for the productivity and profitability of cell factories.
HyFlow

The development of an efficient, sustainable and cost-effective hybrid system is the objective of the European research project HyFlow, in which eleven partners from Germany, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Austria, Portugal and Russia work together under the coordination of Landshut University of Applied Sciences. HyFlow is being funded by the EU until 2023 with EUR 4 million.
Project name: | HyFlow ( 963550) – Development of a sustainable hybrid storage system based on high power vanadium redox flow battery and supercapacitor – technology |
Duration: | 11/2020 - 10/2023 |
Project partners:
| Technologiezentrum Energie (TZE), Hochschule Landshut, Deutschland |
Project management: | Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger (TZE), Landshut University of Applied Sciences |
Programme: | Horizon 2020 |
Total project amount: | EUR 3.9 million |
Funding: | European Union |
Goal | High storage capacity and high power – The HyFlow project develops a powerful model of a hybrid energy storage system that can meet high energy and power requirements. The project thus contributes to ensuring the effectiveness and stability of private and public energy grids in the future. To this end, the researchers want to combine two different systems – a high-performance vanadium redox flow battery and a supercapacitor. |
COATEMO II
Duration: | 01.11.2018 – 31.10.2021 |
Coordinators: | Graphit Kropfmühl GmbH |
Project Partners: | Graphit Kropfmühl GmbH |
Funding: | The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) |
Goal: | Development of novel, high-energy, fast charging and durable silicon/graphene anode materials for electro mobility. |
Description: | Developing quickly rechargeable high-energy anode materials for electric mobility is the aim of The COATEMO II project. The fast charging capability is a decisive factor for the high acceptance of purely electric vehicles (Battery Electrical Vehicle (BEV)), particularly for these advantages: Shorter charging times and fewer charging stations; simplified infrastructures in city centers with a long reach due to more battery energy (charging more than 90 % of the battery capacity in 30 minutes), and, finally, a greater competitiveness compared to combustion engines. In spite of the high capacity of the anode materials discussed for the future lithium-ion batteries (LIB), based on silicon (Si), some disadvantages compared to the traditionally used graphite have to be noted as well. These challenges have to be overcome by joint research and development. |
H2 meets H2O

For the realisation of a climate-neutral mobility sector, hydrogen will have to play a central role as a fuel. But hydrogen is also becoming increasingly interesting for logistics companies as a transport commodity. In order to explore the possibilities of a climate-neutral hydrogen supply along the Danube, the project "H2 meets H2O - Roadmap for the development of a climate-neutral hydrogen supply along the Danube" was launched. The aim of this exploratory project is to assess the feasibility and usefulness of a hydrogen supply based on the Danube logistics axis from a technical, legal and socio-economic perspective. The logistical basis for a subsequent R&D project with innovative pilot applications is to be created, based on a multimodal supply concept with inland vessels, rail and trucks. Hydrogen is not only to be used as a freight, but also as an alternative fuel, so that a reduction of emissions and immissions in the area of freight mobility can be achieved.
The central unique selling points of the project are the comprehensive networking of relevant stakeholders in several workshops, the multi-sectoral approach, the exploitation of the development potential of ports as hydrogen hubs, as well as the consideration of an international roll-out of the solution approaches in the Danube region.
The outcome of this exploratory project should be a roadmap for the implementation of a hydrogen infrastructure along the Danube, in connection with hydrogen-based transport and propulsion technologies in shipping.
Consortium:
- Project coordinator Pro -danube Management GmbH
Christian Stark
stark@prodanube.eu
Robert Rafael
r.rafael@prodanube.eu - Project partner
Energieinstitut an der Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
Hafen Wien GmbH
Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften Landshut
Robert Hahn
robert.hahn(at)haw-landshut.de
via donau
WIVA P&G
- Category: Green mobility
- Duration 04/2022-03/2023
- Funding information This project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection within the framework of the RTI programme Mobility of the Future and is handled by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency.
Name of the institution: FFG
Project number: FO999891484
FERRUM
The Project
Project "All-lron Redox-Flow Battery as an Eco-friendly and Cost-efficient Energy Storage System (FERRUM)” is operated by the Landshut University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Munich-based company VoltStorage. Headed by Prof Dr Karl-Heinz Pettinger and financed by The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) it will run until the end of February 2022 at the Center for Technology in Ruhstorf a.d.Rott, Germany.
The All-lron Redox-Flow Battery as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy storage system (FERRUM) project will run until the end of February 2022. It is being carried out by the Landshut University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with VoltStorage GmbH at the Center for Technology in Ruhstorf an der Rott. The project is headed by Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger. The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is responsible for its funding.
Project Name: | All-Iron Redox-Flow Battery as an Eco-friendly and Cost-efficient Energy Storage System (FERRUM) |
Duration: | 01.03.2020 until 28.02.2022 |
Project Partners: | Center for Technology of the Landshut University of Applied Sciences VoltStorage GmbH |
Project Lead: | Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger |
Funding: | € 186,599 by The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) |
Program: | ZIM (Central Innovation Programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)” |
Project Description: | The researchers are aiming at developing a system of a 50 kWh capacity based on the All-Iron Redox Flow Technology. Fully cascadable, it should find use in all kinds of renewable intermediate storage applications or help ease the loads of power grids |
Based on volatile renewables, we are developing inexpensive de-centralized energy storage systems for an affordable and eco-friendly energy supply. In the use as power storage, the All-Iron Redox-Flow Battery Technology (IRFB) is showing key properties. This is because the materials required for battery production are environmentally friendly, cost-effective and widely available worldwide. Although the IRFB technology was first described in 1981, its advantages could not yet be transferred to market-ready battery systems, as no high-energy efficiency and sufficient long-term stability were achieved. In its development of a marketable storage system based on IRFB, project FERRUM overcomes those technological hurdles. This system should also be fully cascadable up to the MW/MWh range and thus be suitable for all possible applications for the intermediate storage of renewable energies or the relief of the power grids. Against the background of scarce resources as well as cost-effective and environmentally friendly battery development, by further developing the IRFB, it is intended to drive the transformation of energy systems in Germany | |
Completed projects
HochNaB
AIWe


About the Project:
Project „Weltspeicher“ is operated by the Landshut University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Munich-based company VoltStorage. Headed by Prof Dr Karl-Heinz Pettinger and financed in the first round by The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) it will run until end of May 2021at the Energy Technology Centre (TZE) in Ruhstorf a.d.R.
Project Name:
“Weltspeicher auf Basis Fe/Fe-Redox-Flow“ (All-Iron Redox-Flow Battery Technology (IRFB) based Global Energy Storage System
Duration:
June 1, 2020 to May 5, 2021
Project Partner:
Energy Technology Centre (TZE) of the Landshut University of Applied Sciences
VoltStorage GmbH
Main Project Lead:
Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger
Funding for Landshut University of Applied Sciences:
134,000 €
Total Project Amount:
250,000 €
Funding by:
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Program:
Directive on the promotion of a pilot Innovation competition for breakthrough innovations on the subject of global energy storage systems
Project description:
All Iron energy storage: A new cost effective storage technology “Made in Europe“
For both technology and economy, the applicants are to develop a trailblazing concept for the development of a global energy storage system based on All-Iron Redox-Flow Battery Technology (IRFB). The technology has been showing best prerequisites for the use of global energy storage systems. This is because the required materials are environment-friendly, inexpensive, and available across the globe. For the most part, they can be made of recyclable materials. The 1-year project, therefore, aims at producing a detailed solution for the use of IRFB as a cost-efficient eco-friendly global energy storage system, hereby proving basic functionality. Throughout the funding period, laboratory experiments will be testing models and assumptions, as well as demonstrating technical developments. The preparatory concept stage is to generate a product close to serial production. Then, the project stage will be focusing on its design, construction, and optimization, allowing tests of the product in its respective environment. For standardization, in agreement with the other beneficiaries, standard comparative parameters for technical and economical target system specifications, such as standard load cycles, are to be worked out.
The project report completed at the end of the duration period will not only include a strategy for the potential industrialization of the system and comparison with other technologies, but will show the analyses of life cycles, materials and their origins, use of energy, as well as recycling instructions. The document will also state aspects of the storage system’s global market. Here, it will pay attention to location, modulation capability, and maintenance options in populated, low energy regions. It will include Germany, Europe as well as the entire planet.
DanuP-2-Gas

DanuP-2-Gas: Innovative model to drive energy security and diversity in the Danube Region via combination of bioenergy with surplus renewable energy
Duration: 07/2020 – 12/2022
Summary
The Danube Region holds huge potential for sustainable generation and storage of renewable energy. However, to date this region is highly dependent on energy imports, while energy efficiency, diversity and renewables share are low. In line with the EU climate targets for 2030 and the EUSDR PA2 targets DanuP-2-Gas will support transnational energy planning by strengthening generation and storage strategies for renewables in the Danube Region via advanced sector coupling technologies.
DanuP-2-Gas will bring together energy agencies, business actors, public authorities and research institutions through the Danube Energy Platform, based on the platform developed during DTP project ENERGY BARGE (energy-barge.eu).
The Danube Energy Platform is the foundation where stakeholders will be brought together and provided with all developed tools including the existing tools from the predecessor project. The infrastructure and biomass assessment, covering the Danube Region, will identify suitable locations for sector coupling hubs along the Danube River for combination of two idle resources. Unused organic residue (e.g. straw, animal manure, organic waste) will be processed to biochar for easy transport and as basis for synthesis gas generation. Additional hydrogen produced from surplus renewable energy sources (e.g. via electrolysis) allows to upgrade this syngas to renewable natural gas using biologic methanation. In this way the renewables will be diversified and surplus energy can be stored in the existing gas-grid increasing energy security and efficiency.
A GIS based information tool for the Danube Region that will give the users basal basic information about key elements required to realize the technological aspects of the proposed concept will be developed. In combination with the corresponding optimization tool for effective plant design this will result in valuable resources eliminating initial analysis for future investors. The cooperation of various stakeholder groups will additionally be fostered through joint trainings imparting user expertise.
The legal framework influencing the described storage concept will also be assessed on national level to develop a unified transnational strategy including roadmaps for simplified implementation. Finally, effective knowledge transfer will be ensured via workshops elaborating future piloting projects and business models with interested stakeholders and informing about potential exploitable subsidies.
DanuP-2-Gas is the joint effort of 14 partners from 10 countries across the Danube Region. The project builds strongly on pre-existing work to introduce a transnational storage strategy for renewable energy, underlining its economic feasibility and providing useful tools for implementing the concept.
Overall budget: 2.553.726,85 EUR
ERDF Contribution 2.109.336,02 EUR
IPA Contribution 61.331,75 EUR
http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/danup-2-gas
List of Project Partners:
Role | Name | Acronym | Country |
LP | Technology Centre Energy - University of Applied Sciences Landshut | LP - TZE | DE, DEUTSCHLAND |
PP | Energy Agency of Savinjska, Šaleška and Koroška Region | ERDF PP1 - KSSENA | SI, SLOVENIJA |
PP | Tolna County Development Agency Nonprofit Public Ltd. | ERDF PP2 - TCDA | HU, MAGYARORSZÁG |
PP | Energy Institute at the Johannes Kepler University Linz | ERDF PP3 - EI-JKU | AT, ÖSTERREICH |
PP | Black Sea Energy Research Centre | ERDF PP4 - BSERC | BG, БЪЛГАРИЯ (BULGARIA) |
PP | URBASOFIA SRL | ERDF PP5 - URBASOFIA | RO, ROMÂNIA |
PP | Deggendorf Institute of Technology | ERDF PP6 - THD | DE, DEUTSCHLAND |
PP | National Recycling Agency of Slovakia | ERDF PP7 - NARA-SK | SK, SLOVENSKO |
PP | Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice | ERDF PP8 - VSTE | CZ, ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA |
PP | MAHART-Freeport Co. Ltd | ERDF PP9 - MAHART | HU, MAGYARORSZÁG |
PP | International Centre for Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems | ERDF PP10 - SDEWES CENTRE | HR, HRVATSKA |
PP | Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar | ERDF PP11 - EIHP | HR, HRVATSKA |
PP | University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing | ERDF PP12 - UNIZGFER | HR, HRVATSKA |
PP | Regional Agency for Socio – Economic Development – Banat Ltd | IPA PP1 - RDA Banat | RS, SERBIA |
AP | Ministry of Infrastructure, Directorate for Energy |
| SI, SLOVENIJA |
AP | Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning |
| SI, SLOVENIJA |
AP | Municipality of Celje |
| SI, SLOVENIJA |
AP | The Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic |
| CZ, ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA |
AP | Hungarian Biogas Association |
| HU, MAGYARORSZÁG |
AP | JP Elektroprivreda Hrvatske Zajednice Herceg Bosna d.d. Mostar |
| BA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA |
AP | Government of Lower Bavaria |
| DE, DEUTSCHLAND |
AP | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary |
| HU, MAGYARORSZÁG |
AP | Bioenergetica Association |
| MD, MOLDOVA |
AP | Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy |
| DE, DEUTSCHLAND |
Contact: Tim Bieringer, Technology Centre Energy, University of Applied Sciences Landshut
Wiesenweg 1, D-94099 Ruhsdorf a. d. R., Tim.Bieringer@haw-landshut.de
SurfaLIB
LoCoTroP
greenIKK
KME-2nd-Life
LTM
NHEAT
InTenZ
CompStor
EKOSTORE
FERRUM
The Project
Project "All-lron Redox-Flow Battery as an Eco-friendly and Cost-efficient Energy Storage System (FERRUM)” is operated by the Landshut University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Munich-based company VoltStorage. Headed by Prof Dr Karl-Heinz Pettinger and financed by The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) it will run until the end of February 2022 at the Center for Technology in Ruhstorf a.d.Rott, Germany.
The All-lron Redox-Flow Battery as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy storage system (FERRUM) project will run until the end of February 2022. It is being carried out by the Landshut University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with VoltStorage GmbH at the Center for Technology in Ruhstorf an der Rott. The project is headed by Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger. The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is responsible for its funding.
Project Name: | All-Iron Redox-Flow Battery as an Eco-friendly and Cost-efficient Energy Storage System (FERRUM) |
Duration: | 01.03.2020 until 28.02.2022 |
Project Partners: | Center for Technology of the Landshut University of Applied Sciences VoltStorage GmbH |
Project Lead: | Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger |
Funding: | € 186,599 by The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) |
Program: | ZIM (Central Innovation Programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)” |
Project Description: | The researchers are aiming at developing a system of a 50 kWh capacity based on the All-Iron Redox Flow Technology. Fully cascadable, it should find use in all kinds of renewable intermediate storage applications or help ease the loads of power grids |
Based on volatile renewables, we are developing inexpensive de-centralized energy storage systems for an affordable and eco-friendly energy supply. In the use as power storage, the All-Iron Redox-Flow Battery Technology (IRFB) is showing key properties. This is because the materials required for battery production are environmentally friendly, cost-effective and widely available worldwide. Although the IRFB technology was first described in 1981, its advantages could not yet be transferred to market-ready battery systems, as no high-energy efficiency and sufficient long-term stability were achieved. In its development of a marketable storage system based on IRFB, project FERRUM overcomes those technological hurdles. This system should also be fully cascadable up to the MW/MWh range and thus be suitable for all possible applications for the intermediate storage of renewable energies or the relief of the power grids. Against the background of scarce resources as well as cost-effective and environmentally friendly battery development, by further developing the IRFB, it is intended to drive the transformation of energy systems in Germany | |