Chair in Circular Economy Systems

Research

The Circular Economy Systems research group analyzes and develops technical systems with regard to environmental and economic sustainability and recyclability. The focus is on process engineering and electrochemical systems, such as water electrolysis, hydrogen storage and conversion, batteries, and power electronics. These systems are key technologies for the energy transition and thus for our future sustainable energy systems. Therefore, we address the important research question of how these systems can be designed and operated in a way that is environmentally and economically sustainable on a gigawatt scale. Research questions relate to resource efficiency, potential environmental impacts (e.g., CO2e footprint), circularity (e.g., recycling), and costs (e.g., Total Cost of Ownership, Total Cost of Hydrogen). Methodologically, we take a bottom-up approach, meaning we first develop process engineering, electrochemical, and thermodynamic process models. Based on this, we develop life cycle analyses across various dimensions: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA, ISO 14040/44), exergy-based LCA, Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and Circular Economy Potential Analysis. In the field of the circular economy, we focus on the analysis and management of anthropogenic material flows and develop “Design for Circularity,” which takes into account material and manufacturing decisions as well as disassembly and recycling processes.