Following a study, the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) converted an existing biogas plant so that biogas, electricity, fuel or wax can be produced there as required.The test phase has now come to a successful end.In the world's first biogas plant, Fraunhofer researchers have now been able to produce synthetic fuels and waxes from biological waste for the first time.As early as 2017, researchers at Fraunhofer IKTS were working on converting biogas plants in such a way that their operators could react better to market fluctuations and feed-in tariffs.They therefore researched how to integrate additional wax production into the biogas plant.The operator can choose whether to convert the generated biogas into electricity or whether to produce biogenic waxes.Since the remuneration for electricity fed into the grid has been falling and fluctuating for years, this alternative offers greater economic efficiency for the system.The biogenic waxes are required, for example, in the cosmetics and lubricants industries.While the researchers were working on this development, other ideas emerged that have now been tested in the world's first pilot plant.VW and Porschegate: Are e-fuels coming after the Diess era?Fraunhofer IKTS received support for testing in practice from the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, the TU Dresden, the companies Ökotec-Anlagenbau GmbH, Sunfire GmbH and DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik GmbH.They joined together to form a development association and Ökotec-Anlagenbau made an existing biogas plant available.It is in Thallwitz near Leipzig.There, the partners integrated additional technologies: a reformer, a Fischer-Tropen reactor and an electrolyser.The biogas is obtained in the plant from old fats from gastronomy and food production.The reformer is there to produce a synthesis gas, which consists of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, from biogas and steam.It then goes through the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, where the synthesis gas is converted into methane, liquid hydrocarbons and wax.The resulting methane remains within the process and can heat the plant park.Half of the wax and half of the liquid products come out.If the liquid products are forwarded to refineries, they can be processed there – for example into synthetic diesel or kerosene.The electrolyser is intended as an alternative and additional source for the synthesis gas.It can be switched on, for example when there is little biogas or an extremely large amount of electricity is available because solar or wind power plants are currently at peak power.Synthesis gas is also produced in the electrolyser from water vapor and carbon dioxide.This is also intended to continuously supply the Fischer-Tropsch plant with this gas.It is only particularly efficient if it is always supplied with sufficient amounts.Practical testing has shown that a biogas plant with this additional technology offers operators more options to react to market fluctuations and thus to use the plant more economically.They can produce electricity if they can sell it at a good price, or produce synthetic fuels and biogenic wax if the feed-in tariff is unattractive.They switch on the electrolyser primarily when there is a lot of electricity from the wind and sun.There are more than 9,000 biogas plants in Germany.The researchers therefore see considerable market potential."Such expanded biogas plants open up considerable opportunities to create new added value and jobs in the Central German mining area for the time after the coal phase-out," says Erik Reichelt, head of the IKTS working group on system process engineering.Even if renewable energies contribute a large part within the manufacturing process, the biogenic fuels and waxes are still more expensive than those that are produced in the conventional way using fossil fuels.You have to reckon with production costs of around 2.50 euros per kilogram.Although the cost differences are converging due to the currently constantly rising energy prices, one difference will probably remain.At the same time, there is a need in many industries to use more sustainably produced energy sources.Example: aviation.Increasingly strict environmental protection laws make biogenic fuels interesting for airlines.And from 2026, the federal government is probably planning a mandatory quota for the admixture of electrically generated kerosene, so-called e-kerosene.In addition, biogenic waxes can also be of interest to paint and varnish manufacturers, the cosmetics and lubricants industries.The advantage of the new technology: it can be quickly installed in existing biogas plants.Next, the project partners intend to scale up the pilot plant to industrial scale.More on the subject of biogenic fuels:Job search for engineersNina Draese studied history and art history (MA).Among other things, she has worked for the dpa, the press department of BMW, for the Autozeitung and the MAV publishing house.She is a freelance journalist and is part of the Content Qualities team.Her topics: automotive, energy, climate, AI, technology, environment.These inventions would be unthinkable without Albert EinsteinThe largest batteries in the worldThe 10 largest cities in the worldThese are the 9 largest wind turbine manufacturers in the worldSaving energy: The best tips for everyday lifeNew roadmap to a global PtX marketWorld's first solar cell developed from beverage packagingThese are the best areas for solar energy and wind powerNord Stream 1: How important is the mysterious gas turbine really?Finally a fully scalable tandem solar cell made of perovskiteCooling underfloor heating: An alternative to air conditioning?E-fuels: what are the pros and cons?Biogas: Researchers convert plant - the consequences are groundbreakingAlways keep an eye on the most important things: With our two newsletters, you won't miss any more news from the brave new world of technology and you'll receive career tips for everything to do with job searches and 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