DGMT Working Group ´Membranes for climate´

Contribution of membranes to climate protection and mitigation of climate change impacts

The Task

According to the current state of research, climate change is significantly influenced by the concentration of three gases in the atmosphere: CO2, CH4 and N2O (proportionately CO2 about 80%, CH4 about 10% and N2O about 10%).

However, many gases - compared to CO2 - have a harmful effect, even at significantly lower concentrations, which is expressed as an equivalent factor related to CO2:
CH4: approx. 30, N2O: approx. 300 times (many others - e.g. HFCs - even higher).

Therefore, it is necessary to limit the release of these gases to the atmosphere as much and as fast as possible. For CO2, there is also the option (or even the need?) of capturing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Since CO2 is released during the transformation of energy from fossil resources, which will be relevant for years to come, savings in energy consumption can also be assessed as climate protection.

Due to the conversion of the energy system from fossil raw materials to renewable energies, energy is no longer available as a material for the most part but must be transformed for storage and transport. For this purpose, electrochemical conversions are preferred. Here, it is often technically necessary, if not advantageous, for electrode compartments to be separated by membranes.

The Opportunity

Contribution of membranes to climate protection and mitigation of climate change impacts will be the major driver of membrane technology growth over the next decade(s).

The Structure

Working Group Structure

A. Membrane technology to improve processes

Contact person: Norbert Selzer

Find out more...

B. Water for H2 (and other processes)

Contact person: Franziska Blauth

Find out more...

C. Carbon capture

(optional, also other membrane applications in energy conversion/storage)

Contact person: Thomas Schiestel

Find out more...

D. Advances in membrane and module production (including recycling)

to reduce environmental impacts (particularly climate impacts)

Contact person: Ines Bettermann

Find out more...

The Steering Committee

Norbert Selzer

A1: Process improvements by use of membranes - Improvements for climate protection

Find out more...

Franziska Blauth

A2: Process improvements by use of membranes - Improvements for climate impact mitigation

Find out more...

Thomas Schiestel

B: Membranes for energy transformation /storage

Find out more...

Ines Bettermann

C: Improvements by advanced membrane/module production

Find out more...