The Mannheim 001 Project has opened the world’s first facility to turn wastewater and renewable electricity into sustainable marine fuel.

Developed by climate tech startup ICODOS GmbH in partnership with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the City of Mannheim, Germany’s wastewater utility, the project uses electrolysis-generated hydrogen to react with CO₂ from biogas to create clean-burning e-methanol.

“This technology will transform the shipping industry for good and make a decisive contribution to reducing CO2 emissions,” said David Strittmatter, commercial director of ICODOS.

The patented process results in a scalable, carbon-reducing fuel alternative for marine engines that can be produced cost-effectively at smaller scales.

“Here, a valuable material is extracted from biogas generated during wastewater treatment — an innovative approach that shows how existing resources can be used intelligently and, in a climate-friendly manner,” said Professor Thomas Hirth, vice president of transfer and international affairs at KIT.

With more than 75,000 wastewater treatment facilities in the EU – 9,000 in Germany alone – the innovation could redefine how green fuel is produced across Europe.