Green Tech Magazine May 2020 en

GREEN TECH MAGAZINE | MAY 2020
Green Hydrogen
How hydrogen is revolutionising shipping
Carbon Exit
Austria’s last coal power plant closed
Cover photo: istock
Green Health Tech
Green solutions to COVID-19

2 CONTENTS
DEAR READERS,
Not everything is self-evident. This
sentence applies to the current
situation more than almost any other.
It must also be assumed that future
issues, which have been pushed into
the background in the fight against the
coronavirus, will be more important
than ever.
03
04
13
Climate change still remains one
of the most pressing issues. Which
technologies are available for the fight
against global warming? The carbon
exit, more efficient use of renewables
and even hydrogen are beacons of hope
here. We have summarised the latest
research and practical implementations
of “green hydrogen”, in which Styria is
right at the forefront.
09
10
14
IFAT, the world‘s largest environmental
technology trade fair has unfortunately
been cancelled this year, because of the
coronavirus. There, technologies would
have been presented, which were still a
vision two years ago. On pages 4 and
5, you can read a brief preview of this
future, which in many cases is already
happening now.
Finally, we draw your attention to an
undervalued continent with great
potential in the area of green technology.
This is about Africa and we report on
impressions from an economic mission
to South Africa.
With this in mind: stay healthy!
Yours
Bernhard Puttinger
and the Green Tech Cluster team
World News
Austria Says
Goodbye to Coal
Page 03
Digital Waste Management
New Materials Through Smart
Solutions
Page 04
Fresh Green Tech
Green Tech Meets
Health Tech
Page 08
Green Hydrogen
Styria as a Hotspot in
Research & Application
Page 10
Partners: Austrian Ecolabels, ecolabels, PEFC, FSC
Latest
Highlights
Green Lifestyle
Alternatives to Toilet Paper &
Fashion from Waste
Page 13
Future Market: Africa
Investment Opportunities on
the “Green” Continent
Page 14
Publishing information: Media owner and publisher: Green Tech Cluster Styria GmbH, Waagner-Biro-Straße 100, 8020
Graz, Austria, Tel.: +43 (0)316 407744-0, welcome@greentech.at, www.greentech.at. Content
and project management: Andreas Pompenig, Bernhard Puttinger | Support: www.textbrand.at
| Printing: Schmidbauer GmbH, www.derschmidbauer.at
Photo credits: VERBUND, Saubermacher, Ashkan Forouzani, istock, Jasmin Sessler, AgriProtein

World News
No coal
Exit already completed
Exit by 2030
Under discussion
No exit plan
Austria has completed its coal exit
Austria is one of the first countries in the EU to exit power generation
from coal. The last remaining power station closed in April 2020 and
the era of coal-fired generation has ended five years earlier than
planned. On the site, Austria’s largest electricity supplier, VERBUND,
is constructing an innovation centre for renewable energies, with the
support of Green Tech Cluster. Across the EU, CO 2
emissions from
power generation have fallen by 120 million tonnes CO 2
(12%) in the
past year – more than at any time since 1990. The increased CO 2
price
in particular makes power generation from coal less profitable and this
is reflected in a decline by 150 terawatt hours (24%).
www.verbund.com/en-at/about-verbund
Europe’s Green Deal
Source: beyond-coal.eu
The European Commission wants to transform the EU into the first
climate-neutral continent by 2050. One initiative to achieve this is
the European “Green Deal”, which encourages investment in green
technologies. Decarbonisation of the energy system in particular is
vitally important here, as over 75% of emissions from the EU arise
from the generation and consumption of energy. There is therefore
a focus on development of an energy sector that is largely based
upon renewable energy sources. In addition to the investment plan,
a proposal has now been developed for climate legislation together
with a climate pact, adaptation of industrial strategy and the Circular
Economy Action Plan. https://ec.europa.eu
Ambitious: Microsoft’s climate initiative
Photo credit: beyond-coal.eu/edited Green Tech Cluster, Science in HD, Coolcaesar, Fabrizio Verrecchia
Microsoft has set itself ambitious targets on climate protection: by
2030, more carbon dioxide should be saved than is produced; by
2050 all emissions that the company has caused through power
consumption since it was founded in 1975 should have been offset.
This should be made possible by a comprehensive plan, which includes
– among other things – an internal CO 2
tax. The departments will be
charged 15 dollars per tonne and the money will go towards climate
protection efforts. An annual report should guarantee transparency
of the project. The initiative comes in the light of studies that attest
to internet applications having higher CO 2
emissions than the entire
global aviation industry. www.microsoft.com
Au revoir waste, bonjour recycling
France has passed a new “anti-waste law”. To reduce paper waste, the
obligation to issue a receipt will be gradually discontinued by 2022 for
small amounts up to 30 euros. The new law also includes other measures:
a new label indicates how easily electronic products can be repaired,
as around 60% of defective electrical equipment has previously ended
up in the bin. From 2022, supermarkets and online platforms are also
no longer allowed to destroy their unsold hygiene and textile products
but must instead donate or – in the case of textiles – recycle them. The
use of disposable plastic packaging will also be gradually prohibited.
www.gouvernement.fr/en

4
In modern processing plants, the individual components communicate
among themselves and thus get the most out of the waste.
New Materials Through
Smart Solutions
It is no longer any great secret that waste contains valuable raw materials.
Increasingly sophisticated technologies are now being developed for even
more efficient sorting. Styrian companies are right at the forefront here and
have turned many earlier visions into reality.
The waste and recycling industry is an area
in which advanced technology has long
With the aid of algorithms, the reusable materials in the waste are recorded
even on the waste collection vehicle.
been used. In sorting plants, high-precision
optical and laser systems in conjunction
with sophisticated mechanical
components ensure accurate
separation. The next step is
digitalisation and the use of
intelligent technology. With
smart system solutions, first
class products can be obtained
from the waste, whether as
raw materials for high-quality
products made of recycled
materials or as resource-saving
fuel for energy generation.
Companies such as Lindner
Recyclingtech rely on this type of
smart system solutions. “Robotic
sorting, tracer detection and
online quality assurance are the next steps,”
Stefan Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth from Lindner
is convinced. What is important is the
correct feed volume into the plant and the
interaction of the individual elements, which
communicate with one another and use the
data cleverly. This makes it possible to get
the most out of the waste.
Algorithms help with separating waste
In waste management, the basic rule is that
waste should already be as unmixed as
possible when it enters the sorting facility.
Incorrect waste separation creates work for
the disposal and recycling companies. One
solution is so-called “smart dustbins” and
analysis of the waste with direct feedback
to consumers. That is the approach taken
Photo credit: Lindner Recyclingtech, Saubermacher

GREEN TECH MAGAZINE 5
Komptech has developed a new drive concept for the “Terminator”.
A new high-performance shredder is also nearly ready for market launch.
Photo credits: Komptech, REDWAVE
by disposal company Saubermacher. The
waste collection points report the fill level
of the individual bins – such as for glass or
old clothing – to a digital platform, so that
collection happens preferably when the bin
is full. On the way to the compactor, in the
waste collection vehicle,
images are captured
using multispectral and
infrared cameras. In turn,
these data are sent to
the platform, which is
based on self-learning
algorithms. The platform
continually analyses the information and is
constantly learning to determine the contents
of the bin more accurately. Therefore, in
addition to waste generation, its quality can
also be defined accurately for each individual
street and each individual household. If
desired, people can even have their waste
analysed and receive direct feedback via
an app. Incorrect sorting can therefore be
reduced by up to 80%.
International cooperation
A functioning circular economy with unmixed
recovery of new raw and recycled materials
works only if the sorting technology is highly
efficient. That is particularly challenging in the
case of construction and demolition waste,
with a mix of very different and sometimes
contaminated waste groups. Industrial
image processing specialist EVK from Graz
and OP Teknik from Sweden have now
jointly developed a highly efficient solution
for sorting these materials. The result of the
“Our platform helps machine
manufacturers to develop their
solutions within a very short time.”
Matthias Kerschhaggl
EVK
collaboration is called “SELMA”, a flexible
system for a high material flow rate, to sort
selected parts accurately into construction
and demolition waste. SELMA combines
imaging platform EVK HELIOS with robotbased
sorting and is able to distinguish
accurately between
many heterogeneous
materials, such as
paper, cardboard, wood
and even light bulbs.
“Suppliers of sorting
systems benefit from
us, as we offer not only
imaging sensor technology but also analysis
software as well as application and industryrelated
know-how,” Matthias Kerschhaggl
from EVK explains. “The EVK HELIOS
platform helps machine manufacturers, for
example, to develop their solutions within a
very short time and therefore gives them a
head start on the market.”
Green artificial intelligence
Styrian processing plant specialist
REDWAVE also relies on artificial intelligence.
With “REDWAVE mate”, the company has
in its range the world’s first system that
maximises sorting efficiency as well as
yield and purity by means of self-learning
processes. Communication between the
sorting machines takes place in real time
here and cross-platform monitoring makes
the flow of information easy to manage.
Ready for heavy-duty applications
Komptech is backing digital solutions to
make everyday work more productive as
well as “hard facts”. Existing equipment is
being developed continuously, such as in
the case of the new drive concept for the
Terminator and new products such as the
innovative high-performance crusher which
can process a wide variety of materials, such
as household or commercial waste, green
waste or scrap wood. The Nemus drum
screen machine will demonstrate that it has
no problem handling the requirements of
the sand and gravel industry as well as the
recycling of construction materials.
Smart sensors and platforms are shaping the
future of the waste and recycling industry.
With comprehensive know-how and crosssectoral
solutions, the companies from the
Green Tech Valley are optimally equipped
for this dynamic development.
REDWAVE mate will take the artificial intelligence of
sorting machines to the next level.

6
Plastics and their environmental relevance
are discussed widely in the public arena. With
“PLASTECO”, Styria is pushing forward with the
prevention of plastic waste in all its forms.
For a Common
Plastic Cycle
To implement the requirements of the EU plastic strategy,
plastic waste and littering need to be curbed.
With “PLASTECO”, the state of Styria is committed to tackling this issue.
When plastic products become waste,
innovative waste management systems are
needed for collection, sorting and processing.
Although many innovative technologies for
this come from domestic businesses, achieving
the EU recycling rates for plastic packaging
remains a challenge.
EU pulling together
The “European strategy for plastics in a
circular economy” explicitly requires the public
administration as well as the general public
and industry to take measures to establish a
resource-efficient and cycle-oriented “new
plastics economy”. Of significance here are
increasing reuse and recycling as well as
greater use of recyclate plastics.
of plastic waste. Curbing plastic waste and
littering are the principal objectives of the
project. With this in mind, concepts need to
be developed to reduce single-use plastics in
regional value added chains.
Joint investment opportunities
PLASTECO furthermore sees itself as
an economic factor. Investments in ecoinnovations
must be promoted and driven in
the direction of a circular economy. Through
networking activities, Styrian and Austrian
technology leaders must be put in touch with
other EU countries that have a contextual need
for investment.
Let’s get to work!
If you would like to get involved with the
PLASTECO project (e.g. to attend regional
stakeholder meetings), please contact
the department of waste and resource
management (contact person: Ingrid Winter,
tel.: +43 (0)316 877-2153, e-mail: ingrid.winter@
stmk.gv.at).
Info
The EU PLASTECO project offers the
opportunity to assess the current situation
and to reveal potential improvements as well
as barriers in the region. Valuable input as part
of a regional dialogue with stakeholders should
help to improve quality in the management
PLASTECO is part of the European Commission’s Interreg Europe programme for interregional
cooperation and it is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund
(ERDF). Alongside the state of Styria (A14 – department of waste and resource management),
partners from seven other EU countries (Greece Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, France,
Romania and Lithuania) are involved.
www.interregeurope.eu/plasteco or www.abfallwirtschaft.steiermark.at
Photo credit: Lois Hansel

Cluster News
GREEN TECH MAGAZINE 7
Card set for your new data services
The next innovation: together with Know-Center, Green
Tech Cluster has developed a new tool for data-driven
services: Data Service Cards. These are used as inspiration
in the development process and help companies with
easy and quick development of new services as well as
moreover demonstrating hidden potential and business
opportunities on the basis of best practice examples.
After the successful Plug & Play Innovation Box, which
is already used by more than 40 companies, the Data
Service Cards are the second innovation tool from the
cluster. Are you interested too? The cards can be ordered
for € 19.90 (ex. VAT) from welcome@greentech.at.
www.greentech.at/dataservicecards
The Data Service Cards serve as a source of inspiration for easy and quick development
of data-driven services.
Programme for technology leaders of tomorrow
In the Green Tech Top Runner programme, companies receive
comprehensive support in the area of innovation and digitalisation.
In the last 3 years, 20 companies have been helped to peak innovation
in the Green Tech Top Runner consulting programme. In the second
project phase from 2019 to 2021, the subject focus of innovation is
complemented by digitalisation projects. To date, companies have
received support including with new methods of customer integration,
strategic patent exploitation, development of innovation processes and
opening up digital business areas. A tenfold increase in online sales and
successful staff recruitment are just small elements in the successes of the
Top Runner programme. “At a time when new staff were impossible or very
difficult to find, we recruited 18 new people (+25%). The initiatives in Top
Runner contributed significantly to this,” Spitzer Engineering Manager Herbert
Spitzer is pleased to confirm. www.greentech.at/toprunner
UNIDO counts on Green Tech Cluster
UNIDO (the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization) is counting on the know-how of Styrian
Green Tech Cluster in the creation of an green technology
cluster in Pakistan. With the new cluster, UNIDO hopes to
improve the energy efficiency of Pakistani industry, to move
it progressively towards renewable energy sources and
to expand new technologies for this. Green Tech Cluster
has provided support with the preparation and actual
implementation on site through experience and best practice
examples. www.greentech.at
UNIDO is counting on the know-how of Green Tech Cluster to support Pakistani industry
with the sustainable management of natural resources.

8
Fresh
Green hydrogen from wood
Together with partners, the BEST competence centre in Graz has
developed a reactor concept in which hydrogen is generated from
waste wood with a low energy input. Production and processing are
completed in a single stage here with the use of special membranes.
The 2-in-1 reactor allows a gas-liquid reaction at significantly lower
temperatures, with reduced energy consumption and greatly
diminished emission levels up to 40%. Despite these savings on
consumption and emissions, there has been a significant increase
in the volume of hydrogen produced. www.best-research.eu/en
“Sensor eggs” warn of fires
At interdisciplinary student hackathon “Green Tech Jam 2020”, students
spent two days working on new products and services for green tech
companies. The winning team developed metal balls fitted with sensors
(sensor eggs), which issue a timely warning of incipient fires in waste
management plants. Other solutions focused on new business models
for battery storage and energy consumption forecasts on the basis
of mobile communication data and city centre movement patterns.
www.greentech.at/jam2020
First green tech blockchain
In ARTIS, the lab10 collective in Graz has created its own blockchain with
the aim of sustainable and climate-neutral applications. Here, ARTIS
requires only a fraction of the energy of Bitcoin. Yet, in comparison
with traditional payment service providers, the Styrian blockchain is
one step ahead: whilst classic payment service providers consume
roughly as much energy as 40,000 households per year, power
consumption corresponding to around 10 households is enough for
ARTIS. Additionally, ARTIS offers a scalable and decentralised smart
contracting platform, which is used including in e-mobility.
https://lab10.coop
Wolfgang Jileks Cartoon
Green New Deal
Photo credit: lab10 collective

GREEN TECH MAGAZINE 9
Green Tech
Green Styrian disinfectant
Access to disinfectants is currently very limited as a result of the COVID-19
situation and demand – especially in hospitals and nursing homes – is
accordingly high. Relief can now be provided with a process that has
been modified by pro aqua in Styria. The key element here is the Surface
Cleaner systems, in which flow cells fitted with diamond electrodes can
produce electrolysed water in various concentrations. This disinfectant
water can be used for environmentally friendly disinfection and cleaning
and is effective both against viruses (EN14476) and against bacteria (EN
1276, EN13697). www.surfacecleaner.at
Reuse for protective masks
Christof Industries from Graz has modified a device (sinTion) for
processing medical waste, such that the urgently needed masks in
protection classes FFP2 and FFP3 can be disinfected for reuse. The
treatment is carried out either at 121 degrees for 20 minutes or at 134
degrees for five minutes, depending on the respective quality of the
masks. The first devices are already in use in hospitals and Christof
continues to expand production of the urgently needed devices. The
sinTion process is accepted by the prestigious Robert Koch Institute in
Berlin as a verified and recognised disinfection process.
www.christof.com/en
Photo credit: Ashkan Forouzani, proauqa, Münzer Bioindustrie, Montanuniversität Leoben
New drilling technology for geothermal
Together with European partners, Montanuniversität Leoben has
developed a revolutionary drilling technology for the use of geothermal
energy in power and heat generation. Here, the conventional roller
cone bit is combined with water jet cutting technology. This hybrid
technology results in doubling of the drilling speed at the same time
as a cost reduction of around 20%. At a drilling depth of 5000 metres,
this corresponds to a total cost saving of around 3 million euros. Unlike
most other renewable energy sources, power production by means of
geothermal energy has baseload capability. www.unileoben.ac.at
International expansion course
Münzer Bioindustrie has taken over Dutch company Rotie UCO Trade
B.V. in Amsterdam. This makes the Austrian company Europe’s largest
collector and dealer of waste oils and fats. One particular advantage
of the takeover is, above all, the location and infrastructure in the
port of Amsterdam, as this provides access to all strategic logistics
capabilities. Münzer Bioindustrie has ten sites worldwide and, with
around 250 employees, its turnover was more than 260 m euros in 2019.
www.muenzer.at

10
Green Hydrogen:
The Future is Now
As an environmentally friendly energy form of the future, there is strong research
and demonstration of hydrogen. The applications range from use for energy
storage and in vehicles through to industry. Within Europe, Graz University of
Technology and the state of Styria offer huge combined competence.
The breakthrough of hydrogen as a
climate-neutral energy source has so
far failed as a result of two factors: on the
one hand, the energy and cost-intensive
production by means of electrolysis; on
the other hand, the fact that over 95% of
hydrogen is currently produced from fossil
energy sources such as natural gas, petrol
or coal. This is so-called “grey hydrogen”. By
contrast, “green hydrogen” is understood
to mean hydrogen that has been produced
CO 2
-neutrally, using renewable energies.
Hub in hydrogen research
Undoubtedly, Graz Technical University
is a focal point in hydrogen research,
with around 150 researchers in this area.
HyCentA is also based here and has been
developing projects for the production,
distribution, storage and use of hydrogen
for 15 years. At the moment, among other
Styrian hydrogen competence is concentrated at Graz Technical
University and especially at HyCenta with 150 researchers.
things, conversion of the entire city centre
bus traffic in the city of Graz is being
designed in the “move2zero” project, which
will continue until 2023. This concerns the
ideal technology split between battery
electric and fuel cell buses as well as the
required infrastructure with the relevant
hydrogen compression technology.
Green talent in hydrogen research
“The conversion to 100% renewable energy
sources can take place only with green
hydrogen for seasonal energy storage,”
HyCentA employee Marie Macherhammer
is convinced. “Many companies in different
business areas can see the potential and
want to implement projects.” As the
project manager, the 35-year-old doctor of
chemistry is researching both electrolysis
and the use of mobile fuel cells for
commercial vehicles. According to
Macherhammer, products
that have been developed in
research need to be brought
to the market at affordable
prices. It is particularly
important here to work closely
with industry and to have
industry partners on board,
even with large, subsidised
research projects.
Green Talent
Marie Macherhammer
At HyCentA, Graz
University of Technology,
the doctor of chemistry
is researching electrolysis
and the use of mobile
fuel cells for commercial
vehicles.
www.hycenta.at
Photo credit: HyCenA, Shaah Shahidh, Alex Krischner

GREEN TECH MAGAZINE 11
The Large Engines Competence
Center at Graz University of
Technology is conducting research
into reducing the CO 2
emissions
of large cargo ships by 97%.
Low-emission shipping
Container and cruise ships are major
contributors to global greenhouse gas
emissions and many are still powered
by highly toxic heavy oil that contains
sulphur. A large container ship, for
example, produces the same emissions as
a medium-sized coal-fired power station.
In the Europe-wide “HyMethShip” project,
the Large Engines Competence Center
(LEC) at Graz Technical University aims to
reduce CO 2
emissions by 97% and nitrogen
oxide emissions by a fifth – and at the
same to improve energy efficiency by half.
How to do that? The ship carries methanol,
from which hydrogen is produced directly
on board by splitting CO 2
. This is used for
Hydrogen, which is then also used in the methanation of “green gas”,
is produced by means of PV systems.
power. The CO 2
is transported to land and
used again for the production of methanol.
Green gas
In the Styrian area of Gabersdorf, energy
supply company Energie Steiermark
is pursuing a holistic approach to the
production and use of hydrogen: hydrogen
is produced with PV power and used for
mobility and industry. Some of the hydrogen
is also used to produce biomethane in
newly developed load-flexible methanation
with the raw biogas from the existing plant
and fed into the natural gas network. From
2021, the energy for production of 168,000
kg hydrogen will be generated here on an
area of 10,000 m 2 .
High-temperature electrolysis
Austria’s Verbund is backing
hydrogen technology. A 150-
kilowatt Verbund pilot plant for
high-temperature electrolysis
and fuel cell operation is located
in Mellach, Styria. There, in
Austria’s most powerful gas
power plant, climate-neutrally
produced hydrogen should
replace the fossil natural gas
used to date. In the pilot plant,
surplus energy from the grid will
be used for hydrogen production,
from which power and heat
can be generated again. At the
moment, the option of power self-supply
for industrial plants by means of fuel
cells is also being tested. Feeding green
hydrogen into the gas network also solves
the storage problem, as huge storage
capacity is consequently available with an
effectively unlimited storage duration.
Johann energy cell
Martin Handl is taking a different approach
with his “Johann energy cell”. The inventor
tackled the question of how surplus
energy, such as comes from photovoltaic
systems on a large scale in the summer,
can be stored cost-effectively and in the
long term. With the energy cell, according
to Handl, hydrogen can be stored easily,
locally and cost-effectively using standard
storage bundles. The hydrogen can then
be used for the production of power/
heat. The standardised basic modules
with output of 15 kilowatts and capacity
of 450 kilowatt hours can be adapted for
almost any conceivable application, from
local energy supply in mountain huts to
blackout supply.
Hydrogen future
Hydrogen will be a key part of a renewable
energy system. Where the journey is going
in future can already be seen now through
applications in industry and mobility in
Styria.

12
Excerpt from the project implemented in Klagenfurt. The agents (cars,
cyclists, pedestrians and buses) are shown on the transport network
on the way to their respective activities (e.g. work, school etc.).
Agent-Based
Green Mobility
JOANNEUM RESEARCH is using agentbased
transport models to investigate how
CO 2
emissions can be reduced.
In order to remain mobile in a way that is
climate neutral, especially in the country,
considerably more infrastructure is needed
as well as a change in thinking on the part of
the general public. Christian J. Gruber, head
of the Urban Living Lab competence group at
LIFE, on the aim of climate-neutral mobility:
“In rural areas, it is still difficult to get from
A to B without a car. However, we are seeing
increasing willingness among the general
public to travel climate neutrally as well as
growing interest on the part of politics in the
implementation of new concepts.” So what is
needed for this? How can we remain mobile
and limit emissions consumption? “The
overall effect of various measures would help.
In the past, for example, roads were planned
to different standards: they were also about
‘attractive’ transport environments. Today,
a great deal of planning is undertaken on
the basis of economic criteria, i.e. the most
efficient way to get from A to B. However,
studies have shown that ‘attractive’ transport
environments might have a positive impact
on CO 2
emissions, on the one hand because
people travel more slowly and pay more
attention to the transport environments and
on the other hand because other modes of
transport, such as cycling, become more
attractive as a result,” Gruber says.
Instrument for green transport policy
Gruber also notes the social trend to
act sustainably. People are beginning to
consider increasingly how they go where and
when. “These trends are particularly easy to
integrate into mobility planning models by
means of agent-based transport models.
Whereas the routes of groups of people
with homogeneous behaviour are modelled
in classic transport demand models, the
individual behaviour of the agents (people)
can be simulated in agent-based transport
models. The transport behaviour patterns
here are derived from mobility and activity
surveys and calibrated using real traffic
counts. Entire daily routines with all their
activities and routes can be represented
in this way. The long-term effects on
traffic, such as from the Greta Effect or
the COVID-19 pandemic, can therefore be
mapped easily – with the systemic addition
of technical aspects such as low-emission
vehicles and automated driving as well as
Information & Contact
LIFE – The Institute for Climate, Energy
and Society at JOANNEUM RESEARCH
tackles key questions about climate
change. The clear social mission of LIFE
includes strengthening resilience to climate
and weather risks as well as the
transition to a low-carbon economy and
society by 2050. www.joanneum.at
operational aspects, for example such as
‘mobility as a service.’ A transport model that
can systemically map all the aforementioned
aspects is an excellent tool for transport
policy decisions.
Individual climate-neutral concepts
The analyses of the Urban Living Lab group
are agent-based. From the data collected,
realistic people and households are formed,
without the collection of data in a way that
contravenes data protection legislation. In
cooperation with regions or cities, our aim
is to offer bespoke transport models that
make individual mobility sustainable as well
as climate-neutral in the long term,” mobility
and transport expert Christian J. Gruber
summarises.
Christian J. Gruber
JOANNEUM RESEARCH
+43 664 602876-7670
christian.joachim.
gruber@joanneum.at
Photo credit: JOANNEUM RESEARCH/Manuela Schwarzl

GREEN TECH MAGAZINE 13
Green
Lifestyle
A life without loo paper?
Photo credit: Lina Östling, Markus Spiske, Jasmin Sessler, Stephan Friesinger
Economy – ecology
The fact that economic and ecological growth go hand in hand is
demonstrated by the world’s first recycling department store in Eskilstuna,
Sweden. Over two stories, “ReTuna” and its 14 shops offer only recycled
goods. The concept is growing: over 1 million euros of sales were generated
in 2018. Various events, workshops, presentations and campaign days on the
subjects of sustainability and circular economy complement the provision.
The reuse and recycling concept also goes down well with the community.
At the local drive-in recycling centre, old goods can be handed in, which end
up in the department store shop windows after being serviced or repaired.
www.retuna.se/english
Green financing on trend
In a time of climate change, the niche
subject of green financing is also
increasingly entering the collective
consciousness. Green Tech Cluster
partner GREEN ROCKET offers
attractive crowdfunding projects from
start-ups and established companies
in the areas of energy, the green tech,
mobility and health. Depending on the
participation model, supporters benefit
from a fixed rate of interest and/
or participation in the success of the company. To date, 27,381 investors are
already on board and have invested around 65 million euros in green business
models. Record-breaking: The most recent projects alone have exceeded the
funding limit by an average of 460%. www.greenrocket.com
Alternatives to loo paper are of interest not only to people
who went away empty-handed during recent panic buying.
From an ecological perspective too, the production of loo
paper is anything but sustainable, as – according to WWF
– some of the pulp used comes from illegal deforestation.
The following alternatives are available: a flannel is moist
and thorough and can be washed in the washing machine.
Technology has also made its mark on bottom hygiene and
offers a choice of various high-tech toilets with different
cleansing functions. Anyone who prefers not to forego the
feel of pulp should definitely reach for recycled toilet paper.
Ecologically attractive
Packaging and fashion expert
Bettina Reichl demonstrates
how men and women can also
be ecologically attractive. In
her project, “Out of Garbage”,
together with women in Sri
Lanka, she designs and tailors
unusual collections from
plastic waste collected on the
island’s beaches. As well as the
ecological, the project also has
a social aspect, as it offers the
women education and training
locally. Progress of the project can be followed in an online
blog. The second pillar of Bettina Reichl is in the R&D of the
packaging centre in Graz, which has already won the “World
Star Packaging Award” – the Oscar of the international
packaging industry – on several occasions for its sustainable
product packaging. https://owf.at/fashion-blog

14
Green Tech goes … Africa
Africa is a continent that is rarely a focal point but will become increasingly
important in the future. It is a continent that has an incredible wealth of raw
materials and holds many opportunities but also a number of risks. A search
for clues in Africa, focusing on green technology.
Africa has always held a special charm. It
is a continent directly adjacent to Europe,
which has a massive need to catch up on
green technologies and offers huge economic
opportunities but also risks. An economic
delegation from Styria under the direction
Success with Styrian roots: AgriProtein has ranked among the
world’s top 100 clean tech companies for 4 years in a row.
Styrian companies are implementing numerous demonstration projects
in Africa and additionally providing support with know-how.
of state minister for the economy Barbara
Eibinger-Miedl with a number of well-known
companies as well as start-ups was able to
establish promising contacts at the beginning
of March and lay the foundation for follow-up
projects.
A continent full of opportunities
Some companies from the Green Tech
Cluster have been active in Africa for a
long time: for example, AEE INTEC has
been working on the “Soltrain” project
together with companies, universities
and educational institutions in the six
partner countries Botswana, Lesotho,
Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa
and Zimbabwe for nine years. This is
about education, solar thermal roll-out
programmes and the establishment
of pilot facilities; basically, it is about
“helping people to help themselves,” as
AEE INTEC Managing Director Werner
Weiss emphasises. 3000 people have
already been trained and 260 pilot
projects have been implemented.
Larvae as sustainable animal feed
One very innovative approach in
waste management is being pursued
by Christof Industries with the startup
AgriProtein. Instead of destroying
millions of tonnes of organic waste, they
are used in a “waste-to-nutrient” waste
processing plant to produce an ideal
nutrient solution for larvae. After just 14 days,
the larvae are processed into two different
products: into protein powder as animal feed
for the food industry and into a versatile insect
oil. As a third product, an organic compost is
obtained from the process. To this end, the first
fly farm was constructed in Cape Town, South
Africa; follow-on projects in California are in
the pipeline.
Mini-grid-systems
Electricity supply in particular presents great
challenges for southern Africa with respect
both to costs and to availability. This is where
the “JUMEME” project comes in, a joint
venture with the involvement of renewable
energy specialist RP Global. The aim is to
establish a total of 300 decentralised micronetworks
with no general grid connection –
so-called mini-grid systems – in Tanzania by
2023 and to supply power to over a million
people in rural areas.
Frugal solutions: rethinking things
Particularly when dealing with the challenges
that southern Africa is facing, it is promising to
rethink things. Georg Wagner from think tank
Spirit Design is also convinced of this. “We are
backing so-called frugal innovation here,” he
explains. “Frugal products and services focus
on core functions and minimise the use of
material and financial resources.” One example
of this is work and transport vehicle CH4PA.
The vehicle can run both on biomethane
Photo credit: AgriProtein, AEE INTEC, Montage: hope-design.at

Key:
1 1
Legal framework condition
Market conditions & trends
Business opportunities
The radar graph records future legal framework
conditions, market conditions and trends as well as
potential business opportunities in South Africa.
Further information can be found on the new Green
Tech radar, “Green Tech market opportunities in
South Africa”. www.greentech.at/print
from agricultural waste and on petrol. The
multifunctional vehicle can transport over two
tonnes of goods and was developed by Spirit
Design together with project partners in Brazil.
“Frugal mobility concepts like this are ideal for
emerging countries,” Spirit Design Manager
Georg Wagner says.
Alliance with GreenCape
South African green technology cluster
GreenCape has a broad network of key
players and works closely with companies,
industry associations, the government
and universities. These are contacts and
services that Green Tech Cluster partners
can use free of charge as part of the ICN
network. Particular market opportunities
are offered by the “Atlantis Greentech
Special Economic Zone”. This offers
investors from all over the world the
opportunity to invest in green technologies
locally. Investments amounting to 262
million USD are therefore expected in the
coming years.
Contact
GreenCape
Mike Mulcahy
18 Roeland Street, Cape Town,
8001 South Africa
mike@green-cape.co.za
Tel.: +27 21 81 10 250
www.green-cape.co.za

16
Did you know?
Plug-and-play plastic recycling
Worldwide, only around 9% of plastic waste is properly recycled. Plastic
often ends up in landfill, incinerated or at worst in the environment.
The team from plasticpreneur has taken up this challenge and
developed a machine for processing plastic waste, which is both easy
to manufacture and cost-effective (around € 3000/unit). It can be
used to manufacture consumer items that are lacking from everyday
use or unaffordable, especially in emerging countries. A positive sideeffect:
waste therefore gains a value and thus raises awareness of
environmental protection. https://plasticpreneur.com
Model of nature: bacteria LEDs
LEDs are energy-efficient but require valuable and scarce resources
for production. Together with researchers from Spain and Italy, protein
designer Gustav Oberdorfer from Graz University of Technology is
working on environmentally friendly and affordable LEDs. The aim
is to use bacteria for the development of completely new types of
artificially fluorescent proteins, which are subsequently used in LEDs.
In their original form, the proteins occur in marine organisms, which
use them as a light source, for hunting, for communication or for selfdefence.
www.tugraz.at
Graphene from waste
In a special reactor, researchers in Texas have successfully produced
graphene from waste that contains carbon, e.g. such as plastic.
Graphene is a modification of carbon, which has a two-dimensional
structure and carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern and
which has exceptional stability and tensile strength. With the new
technology, large quantities can be produced cost-effectively. One
possible use is the production of a graphene cement, which makes
concrete stronger and more durable. As a result, less concrete would
be required – a huge relief for the environment, as cement production
contributes to 8% of CO 2
emissions worldwide. www.rice.edu
Timber construction reduces emissions
Styria has comprehensive expertise in the timber sector, as proven
impressively e.g. by the world’s largest wooden ball, from Styrian
production. A recent study shows that timber construction can reduce
climate-damaging emissions. Four scenarios were calculated, which
assume a proportion between 0.5% and 90% of wooden buildings in
new construction in the next 30 years. Depending on the scenario, it
would therefore be possible to save between 10 m tonnes and almost
700 m tonnes of carbon. Important for a positive overall result: timber
recycling and sustainable forestry. https://environment.yale.edu
Photo credit: plasticpreneur, inMotion PARK Seenland GmbH, Lunghammer – Graz University of Technology, Jeff Fitlow/Rice University