“SolidScore” Project Explores the Economic Potential of Dark Fermentation for Biogas Plant Operators
Münster/Steinfurt/Gescher, Germany, 03/19/2025 – As a partner in the “SolidScore” research project, the PlanET Biogas Group is actively involved in assessing the economic feasibility of an innovative process for biological hydrogen production. The project investigates how hydrogen and methane can be extracted from solid biomass using dark fermentation. A team from Münster University of Applied Sciences (MUAS) has launched a test facility at the Technology Campus in Steinfurt (Germany), which operates around the clock and is already delivering promising initial results.
New Perspectives on the Use of Residual Materials
The test facility ferments various solid materials, including milk powder residues provided by PlanET as a project partner. In a specially developed reactor, 100 liters of gas have already been produced – including 20 liters of hydrogen. In the future, this process could enable the use of additional dry biomasses such as rapeseed or food waste.
PlanET Assesses Economic Potential for the Biogas Industry
Alongside Münster University of Applied Sciences (MUAS) and EMCEL GmbH, the PlanET Biogas Group is responsible for the economic analysis of the “SolidScore” project. The objective is to evaluate the potential integration of this process into existing biogas plants and to identify new value creation opportunities for plant operators. “Dark fermentation alone will not ensure widespread hydrogen production in the future, but it could be a valuable component in a diversified energy system,” says Dr. Elmar Brügging, project manager at Münster University of Applied Sciences (MUAS) .
Future Outlook: Optimization and Industrial Application
Since the process is still at an experimental stage, further optimization is required. A future combination of fermentation from solid materials and wastewater could offer new flexibility options.
“For biogas plant operators, this process could represent an exciting expansion opportunity to efficiently utilize production residues while opening up new revenue streams. We will continue to work closely with our research partners to analyze the economic feasibility and develop sustainable prospects for the biogas sector,” says a spokesperson for the PlanET Biogas Group.
The “SolidScore” project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
More information about the project: https://www.fh-muenster.de/de/ueber-uns/newsroom/news/egu/inbetriebnahme-solidscore
