Currently Funded Project

In 2019, an energy partnership was established between Germany and Chile with the aim of supporting the national energy policy in favor of a climate-friendly, nationwide, secure and affordable energy supply in Germany and in Chile. The project Power-to-MEDME project is dedicated to the large-scale development of the proproduction of green methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) in Chile. In the spirit of the German-Chilean energy partnership, this project supports the diversification of energy imports and the development of trade relations with potential exporters of green hydrogen.

The accompanying project Power-to-MEDME-FuE comprises research and development tasks along the entire process chain, starting with the production of green hydrogen from renewable energies, through CO₂ capture in cement production, to the product methanol and dimethyl ether (DME). The aim is to reduce costs and increase the efficiency of the various processes themselves. As part of work package 4, Fraunhofer-Center HTL is working on improving clinker burning and CO₂ capture in the cement factory.

• Development of autonomous sensors, which are necessary for efficient control and which must function reliably under harsh conditions. The sensors are to be used to measure the local temperature, the gas composition and the wear of the refractory lining.
• Development of a model-predictive control system for more effective process control based on the measurement data obtained from the sensors, a simulation of the material and heat flows and a digital process twin based on this.
• With regard to the energy and CO₂ efficiency of the cement factory (rotary kiln), the focus is on thermal process control and the durability of the refractory lining in terms of materials.