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Mannheim sets standards: EU Commissioner praises climate-neutral sewage treatment plant!
EU Commissioner Jessica Roswall and Environment Minister Thekla Walker visited Mannheim's new sewage treatment plant for climate-neutral wastewater technology.
Mannheim sets standards: EU Commissioner praises climate-neutral sewage treatment plant!
As part of her visit to Mannheim on October 6, 2025, the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Jessica Roswall, together with the Baden-Württemberg Environment Minister Thekla Walker and the first mayor Prof. Dr. Diana Pretzell, visited the innovative sewage treatment plant north of Sandhofen. The aim of the visit was to inspect the advanced concept for climate-neutral wastewater technology and the wastewater treatment technologies in use there.
A highlight of the sewage treatment plant is the recently installed power-to-methanol demonstration plant. This novel technology enables the production of climate-neutral ship fuel from sewage gas combined with hydrogen. Projects like this play a critical role in transforming industrial byproducts into sustainable energy sources and could have far-reaching impacts on the shipping industry, which currently produces around three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization.
Innovative technologies for wastewater treatment
The Mannheim sewage treatment plant is also demonstrating the world's first large-scale implementation of a fourth purification stage that uses powdered activated carbon. This additional stage complements the existing mechanical, biological and chemical processes that purify approximately 81,000 cubic meters of wastewater every day. The fourth purification stage achieves a significant improvement in water quality as it effectively removes trace substances such as drug residues, pesticides and microplastics.
The EU plans to introduce legislation by mid-2027 that will require the introduction of this innovative technology in most wastewater treatment plants in Europe. The Mannheim plant is not only seen as a pioneer, but also as a model for other municipalities that are striving for similar progress in wastewater treatment.
A model for the future
The “Mannheim 001” wastewater treatment plant, which is based on a patent from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), shows how research and entrepreneurship can work harmoniously together to develop sustainable solutions. This facility was inaugurated on March 24, 2025 with the support of a consortium that includes KIT as well as several other institutes and companies. Mayor Christian Specht described the facility as an example of how climate protection can be combined with industrial growth.
Dr. At the opening, Volker Wissing, the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, emphasized the fundamental role of climate-neutral fuels for the future of maritime shipping. The process for converting biogas-based wastewater into methanol opens up new potential for sustainable energy production in Germany. It is estimated that German wastewater treatment plants could produce several million tonnes of sustainable methanol annually, further advancing efforts towards a cleaner environment.
In summary, it can be said that the Mannheim sewage treatment plant, with its innovative technologies, is taking a decisive step towards an ecologically and sustainably designed future. It not only shows the potential of wastewater treatment, but also the possibilities that sustainable energy sources open up for industry.