• Deutsch
  • English
Logo Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt
  • Deutsch
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • English

Category: Aktuelles

Phosphorus Recovery Before 2029: RePhoR Status Report Provides Practice-Oriented Insights

Phosphorus Recovery Before 2029: RePhoR Status Report Provides Practice-Oriented Insights

The status report of the BMFTR-funded initiative “Regional Phosphorus Recycling – RePhoR” has been published. Coordinated by FiW within the accompanying project TransPhoR, the report compiles the findings from seven collaborative projects on phosphorus recovery and highlights practical challenges, solution approaches, and opportunities. The publication comes at a critical time: four years before the legal obligation for phosphorus recovery comes into effect, concrete implementation plans are still lacking in many places.

Phosphorus is an essential and irreplaceable element in all living organisms and is primarily used as fertilizer for high-yield agriculture. Since the EU has no domestic phosphate rock deposits, it is entirely dependent on imports, which poses significant risks to supply security. Recovering phosphorus from phosphorus-rich waste streams such as wastewater and sewage sludge plays a key role in securing future supply.

Since 2020, seven collaborative projects have been working on phosphorus recovery concepts within the BMFTR-funded RePhoR initiative, implementing them at a large technical scale. In addition to technical aspects, the projects also address legal and organizational challenges—such as inter-municipal cooperation, partnerships with private sector actors, logistics, certification requirements, and the quality and marketability of the recovered products. Most of the projects have now built their facilities and gained initial operational experience. These practical insights are essential to support future investment decisions based on well-founded knowledge.

The current RePhoR status report provides a comprehensive overview of how large-scale recovery processes can be implemented technically, economically, and organizationally—from planning to market integration. It also discusses legal and permitting barriers as well as issues of social and agricultural acceptance. The report is available for download at the following link: https://www.bmbf-rephor.de/download-statusbericht-2025/

We welcome your feedback, which can be submitted via a form available with the download.

The report was presented at this year’s 14th DWA Sewage Sludge Days in Würzburg at the joint exhibition booth of the collaborative projects, offering numerous professionals the opportunity to exchange insights on the current state of research.

RePhoR Webinar Series Launch – Registration Open

RePhoR Webinar Series Launch – Registration Open

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the kick-off of the RePhoR webinar series will take place with the presentation of the legal opinion on the end-of-waste status of phosphorus recyclates. The legal opinion was prepared by KOPP-ASSENMACHER Rechtsanwälte as part of the BMBF funding guideline for Regional Phosphorus Recycling (RePhoR), which the FiW supports with the scientific transfer project TransPhoR. It analyzes the legal framework regulating the transition of phosphorus recyclates from waste status to product status. The entire recovery and recycling chain is examined, with particular focus on the specific requirements arising from the EU Fertilizer Regulation.

Another key focus is on industrial applications of phosphorus recyclates, for which there are currently no uniform regulations.

The legal opinion is available for download at the following link:

https://www.bmbf-rephor.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Rechtsgutachten_Abfallende_Phosphorrezyklat.pdf

The RePhoR webinar series provides a platform for an illustrative presentation of results and practical experiences from the RePhoR joint projects, as well as the accompanying cross-cutting topics. The thematic spotlights offer practical insights, potentials, and challenges – including the transferability of results – to promote the utilization of outcomes and knowledge transfer. Following the presentations, further applications and possibilities will be discussed.

Starting in March 2025, several compact RePhoR webinars (lasting between one and 1.5 hours) will be offered. In the first half of 2025, the focus will be on the results of the cross-cutting topics; from the second half of 2025, experiences from the technical implementation of the joint projects will be presented.

The webinars are aimed at stakeholders from politics, regulatory authorities, municipalities, industry, academia, practitioners, and society. Participation is free of charge. Registration is possible at the following link:

https://www.bmbf-rephor.de/rephor-webinare/

Webinars already scheduled include “Sustainability Assessment of Phosphorus Recycling” on May 19, 2025, and “Plant Availability of Phosphorus Recyclates” on June 17, 2025.

Release of the R-Rhenania short film

Release of the R-Rhenania short film

© Hupp-Dobusch

Another project film has been completed, providing insights into the work and goals of the R-Rhenania joint project. You can watch it at the following link: https://youtu.be/RjLbXDCQUO4

In the R-Rhenania project, two variations of the thermochemical process with the addition of (earth) alkalis are being investigated. Sewage sludge ashes are thermochemically treated in a downstream rotary kiln. This process is known under the proper name AshDec®. In the second phase of the project, this process is being trialled for various scenarios. In the other variant, this thermochemical process takes place directly in the incineration of sewage sludge and is being implemented as a demonstration plant at the Altenstadt site. The Emter company is converting its existing grate firing mono-incineration system so that the thermochemical process can be integrated in order to produce an effective and low-pollutant phosphate fertiliser. The project partner, fertiliser manufacturer sePura, plans to use all of the fertiliser produced regionally in Bavaria.

The short films are planned, produced and edited in close cooperation with the joint projects. They are intended to provide a lively insight into the pilot plants and the work of the joint projects and will be published gradually over the coming weeks on the RePhoR homepage and the YouTube channel.

8th RePhoR steering committee meeting in Markranstädt

8th RePhoR steering committee meeting in Markranstädt

Part of the RePhoR steering committee visiting the Pontes Pabuli pilot plant in Markranstädt at Veolia Klärschlammverwertung Deutschland GmbH from the DreiSATS joint project. © FiW e. V.

The 8th RePhoR steering committee meeting was organised at the beginning of November, which was held at Veolia Klärschlammverwertung Deutschland GmbH’s site in Markranstädt near Leipzig with the kind permission of the company. Some of the steering committee members had already met on 5 November for a tour of the Pontes Pabuli pilot plant. Project coordinator Claudyn Kidszun and project engineer Oskar Stiehler from VKD warmly welcomed the group and gave them a tour of the site. The actual meeting was held on 6 November. As always, the meeting included a report on progress and interim results from the joint projects as well as overarching topics such as current developments in the phosphorus recovery landscape in Germany. As some of the projects will conclude in 2025, the synthesis and utilisation of results is also of particular importance.

The Steering Committee is used for cross-project networking between the research projects and for discussing overarching issues. Among other things, cross-cutting themes will be defined, on which all interested collaborative projects will work together during the course of the funding programme, e.g. in workshops. In addition, joint activities are planned for the exploitation and practical implementation of project results and for public relations. The group consists of the coordinators of the collaborative projects, the networking project and experts, e.g. from industry, associations, authorities and ministries. Representatives of the BMBF and the project organiser also take part in the steering committee meetings, which take place up to every six months.

Last film production finalized for RePhoRM in Frankfurt a. M.

Last film production finalized for RePhoRM in Frankfurt a. M.

Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © FiW e. V.
Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © FiW e. V.
Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © FiW e. V.
Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © FiW e. V.
Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © FiW e. V.
Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © FiW e. V.
Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © FiW e. V.
Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © FiW e. V.
Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © Hupp Dobusch / FiW e. V.
Impressions of the RePhoRM filming. © Hupp Dobusch / FiW e. V.

The final short film shoot is complete: the joint project RePhoRM invited participants to the project location at the Höchst Industrial Park in Frankfurt am Main in early September. The joint project coordinator, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Engelhart from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, together with project partners from Glatt GmbH and Infraserv GmbH, presented the project. The pilot plant was built in the industrial park last year and has been in the testing phase since this year. We would like to thank the entire team on-site for the professional collaboration and the exciting insights!

As part of the BMBF funding programme RePhoR (Regional Phosphorus Recycling), the TransPhoR project is producing a total of seven short films about the joint projects. The films provide a lively insight into the different approaches of the projects.

Within the framework of the joint project RePhoRM, a technological and organizational solution for phosphorus recycling in the Rhine-Main area is being developed and implemented. Based on the mono-sludge incineration capacity and its potential expansion in the Frankfurt Rhine Main metropolitan region, a cooperative phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge ash is to be implemented. In accordance with the Hessian resource protection strategy, a fertilizer granulate is produced as a phosphorus recyclate which can be used directly to close the regional nutrient cycle in agriculture. When implementing phosphorus recycling, the particular interests of the partners in the network must be taken into account with regard to the technology for phosphorus recovery and the formation of a phosphorus recycling network. From a technological point of view, the aim is to remove heavy metals from the sewage sludge ash before the actual phosphorus recovery. Within the framework of the project, the PHOS4green technology to produce fertilizer granulate is therefore further developed by a heavy metal removal of the (input) sewage sludge ash and the process is implemented on a large scale in Industriepark Höchst. In addition to an economic and ecological study of phosphorus recycling, the integrated solution will be legally assessed and organised.

More information can be found on the RePhoR homepage https://www.bmbf-rephor.de/en/joint-projects/rephorm/  or on the project homepage https://www.klimaphonds.de/.

TransPhoR at the 5th European Sustainable Phosphorus Conference in Spain

TransPhoR at the 5th European Sustainable Phosphorus Conference in Spain

Impressions from the ESPC5. FiW e. V.
Impressions from the ESPC5. FiW e. V.
Impressions from the ESPC5. FiW e. V.
Impressions from the ESPC5. FiW e. V.
Sophia Schüller (FiW) with RePhoR participants Dr Joachim Clemens (Soepenberg-SF GmbH) from SATELLITE/P-Net and Ludwig Hermann (Promann Consulting) from R-Rhenania at ESPC5. © FiW e. V.
Sophia Schüller (FiW) with RePhoR participants Dr Joachim Clemens (Soepenberg-SF GmbH) from SATELLITE/P-Net and Ludwig Hermann (Promann Consulting) from R-Rhenania at ESPC5. © FiW e. V.

As part of the TransPhoR transfer project, FiW was able to represent the BMBF funding programme Regional Phosphorus Recycling (RePhoR) with a poster at the 5th European Sustainable Phosphorus Conference in Lleida, Spain.

The ESPC is one of the largest events on the subject of phosphorus recycling and welcomes several hundred visitors from industry, the fertiliser industry, research and legislation every two years or so. It is organised by the European Phosphorus Platform ESPP.

In addition to Sophia Schüller, other RePhoR participants were also present, including former ESPP President Ludwig Hermann from Promann Consulting, who is involved in R-Rhenania, and Dr Joachim Clemens, who is involved in the SATELLITE and P-Net joint projects with fertiliser manufacturer Soepenberg-SF GmbH and gave a presentation on the iPhos process developed by Soepenberg.

Release of the SATELLITE short film

Release of the SATELLITE short film

Another project film has been completed, providing insights into the work and goals of the SATELLITE joint project. You can watch it at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8fQ6Uy5XNw&

The Satellite project offers a concept for the implementation of a comprehensive intermunicipal network for the joint planning and management of plants in regional centres (treatment plants with more than 50,000 inhabitants) and their satellites (treatment plants with less than 50,000 inhabitants) for regions with a strong agricultural character. In addition to the treatment of sewage sludge, the aim is also to integrate relevant agricultural nutrient sources (liquid manure, biogas plants). The project is coordinated by the ISAH at the Leibniz University of Hannover and is carried out together with the partner institutions BIORESTEC, Göttinger Entwässerungsbetriebe, Kommunale Nährstoffrückgewinnung Niedersachsen GmbH, Kreisverband für Wasserwirtschaft Nienburg, Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen, PARFORCE GmbH, Raiffeisen Agil Leese eG, R-E-Pro Ingenieurbüro Dr Sabrina Breitenkam, SF-Soepenberg GmbH, Stadtentwässerung Hildesheim and the town of Pattensen.

The short films are planned, produced and edited in close cooperation with the joint projects. They are intended to provide a lively insight into the pilot plants and the work of the joint projects and will be published gradually over the coming weeks on the RePhoR homepage and the YouTube channel YouTube-Channel.

Joint Declaration on the Expansion of Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge by the BMUV

Joint Declaration on the Expansion of Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge by the BMUV

© stockadobe.com

Following the “Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge” industry dialogue on May 6th, organized by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), a joint declaration has now been published. It outlines challenges and approaches for a constructive framework to address the issue. The declaration is available at the following link: https://www.bmuv.de/download/gemeinsame-erklaerung-zum-ausbau-der-phosphorrueckgewinnung-aus-klaerschlamm

Filming at KlimaPhoNds in Clausthal

Filming at KlimaPhoNds in Clausthal

© FiW e. V.
© FiW e. V.
© FiW e. V.
© FiW e. V.
© Hupp-Dobusch
RePhoR-Dreh_KlimaPhoNds_6_©Hupp-Dobusch_1144x625
© Hupp-Dobusch

Close the penultimate flap: The TransPhoR team and the Hupp-Dobusch team travelled to Clausthal in beautiful Lower Saxony on 11 June to present the RePhoR joint project KlimaPhoNds. Prof. Dr. Michael Sievers and Rene Schumann answered all our questions about the project and explained the processes and objectives of the project. The KlimaPhoNds project is coordinated by the CUTEC research centre at Clausthal University of Technology. We would like to thank the entire local team for their great and professional cooperation!

As part of the BMBF funding programme RePhoR (Regional Phosphorus Recycling), the TransPhoR project is producing a total of seven short films about the joint projects. The films provide a lively insight into the different approaches of the projects.

KlimaPhoNds pursues a decentralized phosphate extraction in wastewater treatment plants, and based on this, a centralized refinement of the phosphate precipitation products to high-quality phosphoric acid, ammonia water and magnesium chloride. The climate neutrality is achieved by a nearly heat-neutral drying process with fluidized bed evaporation drying. The result is a fully dried, low-phosphate sewage sludge that can be recycled without residue and used in the cement industry for material and energy generation. A prerequisite for enough P-depletion in the sewage sludge is an optimized bio-P-elimination at the sewage treatment plant. In the first of two phases, the bio-P elimination at the Northeim wastewater treatment plant is maximized. If enough Bio-P fixation is successfully demonstrated, phase 2 will demonstrate the processing of the precipitation products to different raw materials, the almost heat-neutral drying and the utilization of dry sewage sludge as fuel and raw material on a technical scale.

More information can be found on the RePhoR homepage https://www.bmbf-rephor.de/en/joint-projects/klimaphonds/ or on the project homepage https://www.klimaphonds.de/.

RePhoR joint project DreiSATS short film released

RePhoR joint project DreiSATS short film released

The first of a total of seven short films about the RePhoR joint projects has been released. Filming for the RePhoR collaborative projects started on 12 December last year in Markranstädt at the Pontes Pabuli pilot plant on the site of Veolia Klärschlammverwertung Deutschland GmbH and at the incineration plant of CARBOTECHNIK Energiesysteme GmbH in Magdeburg.

The short film about the DreiSATS joint project has now been completed and published.

The aim of the DreiSATS project is the practical testing and demonstration of an innovative, economically and technically feasible process chain for decentralised, thermal sewage sludge utilisation with phosphorus recycling and product utilisation for the model region “Central German Triangle”. The short films are planned, produced and edited in close cooperation with the joint projects. They are intended to provide a lively insight into the pilot plants and the work of the joint projects and will be published gradually over the coming weeks on the RePhoR homepage and the YouTube channel.