Umwelt- und Ingenieurtechnik GmbH Dresden (UIT) has delivered a custom-built, container-based pilot biogas plant for the production and processing of biogas to the NOWUM-Energy Institute at Aachen University of Applied Sciences on the Jülich campus. The plant is a central component of the PHOENIX research project, which focuses on climate-neutral, regional energy cycles. The pilot container was custom-built by the Dresden-based plant manufacturer and adapted to the client’s specifications.
From Concept to Pilot Container
As part of the PHOENIX project, which has been underway since November 2024, the NOWUM-Energy Institute initially tested various regional waste materials and plants on a laboratory scale to determine their suitability for biogas production. Following successful laboratory trials, the project is now moving to the scale-up phase: The new container-based facility enables continuous biogas production on a pilot scale and will be used for further research and optimization.
To this end, Aachen University of Applied Sciences selected UIT as the manufacturer of the pilot container, relying on the company’s many years of experience in the development and manufacture of biogas test facilities and pilot plants.
Compact technology with high safety standards
The system is installed in a 20-foot high-cube container, divided into a main compartment and a separate compressor room. The fermentation area houses a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) with a volume of 150 to 180 liters, which produces 50 to 150 liters of biogas daily. The gas is then conditioned (dried and purified to remove hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and siloxanes) and compressed in several pressure stages—from 10 millibars to 100 bars. The process concludes with filling into 50-liter pressurized gas cylinders, which also takes place inside the container.
More than 20 sensor data points continuously record, monitor, and store all relevant system conditions, enabling real-time analysis. The safety of the plant is ensured by ATEX ventilation, ambient air monitoring, and a comprehensive safety concept that includes acceptance tests.
Through projects such as PHOENIX, UIT, as a plant manufacturer, actively supports research in biogas production, which holds great potential as a renewable, versatile energy source.
