New DLR Institute in Zittau: 32 million euros for green future!

New DLR Institute in Zittau: 32 million euros for green future!

Zittau, Deutschland - in Zittau, in the heart of Upper Lusatia, an extremely significant development is started these days: the construction of a new institute for poor industrial processes, which is responsible for by the German Center for Aerospace (DLR) . A total of 32 million euros flow into this ambitious project, which is completely covered by funding. The foundation stone was laid in June 2024 and the work should be completed by the end of next year. The new institute is being built on a spacious area of ​​1.58 hectares between Schramm, Hochwald- and Friedrich-Schneider-Straße.

The DLR founded the institute in 2019 to advance the decarbonization of various industries. In addition to the location in Zittau, there is currently also one in Cottbus, where 32 employees in research and administration are already working. The number of employees should rise to 60, which not only shows a good knack for economic developments, but also strengthens cooperation with regional partners, such as the snack manufacturer lorenz and the specialized paper manufacturer Felix Schoeller . In this way, energy efficiency in production is to be increased and fossil fuels are to be reduced in the production of food, paper and other materials.

progress through innovation

A central concern of the new institute is the development of high-temperature heat pumps for the use of waste heat, which are indispensable for a sustainable energy supply in industry. The industry has a high need for industrial heat supply - around 70 % of the energy required are required in the form of heat, with only around 15 % of these heat being provided by renewable technologies. The majority continue to come from fossil fuels, which generates high amounts of greenhouse gases, especially CO₂. That is why innovative solutions are required to design production processes with minimal CO₂ emissions. Among other things, the DLR deals with the conversion of coal-fired power plants into CO₂-poor energy suppliers and has launched numerous projects, including the development of a design-for-circularity methodology for the returnability of raw materials.

Some of the other DLR projects include the development of energy solutions for difficult industries that cannot simply be switched to electrical systems, in particular the steel industry. The focus is on the replacement of coal and coke by hydrogen. The use of hydrogen could be a real revolution in the area of ​​energy supply, since it is not only efficient, but also contributes significantly to CO₂ reduction.

research and teaching in focus

In addition to research, the DLR also offers numerous options for students who are interested in topics such as green process heat or decarbonization concepts. Bachelor and master's theses as well as promotions on these innovative topics are on the program. Thus, the institute is not only a center for scientific excellence, but also a future training location for the specialists of tomorrow.

Overall, it can be said that the new DLR Institute in Zittau is an important step in the right direction to reach the energy and climate goals of the future. The initiatives that are developed there could not only support local companies, but also pave the way for a more sustainable industry and set a sign in the fight against climate change. A project that "is there" and not just the region, but the entire industry.