CSR News Title RWE Power, BRAIN join forces in white biotech: co-operation on CO2 as raw material for new products Detailed Content To convert carbon dioxide into microbial biomass or biomolecules: such is the goal of co-operative research agreed between RWE Power and BRAIN AG from Zwingenberg. The power generator and the biotech company want to equip micro-organisms” with new enzymes and explore innovative synthesis-routes and pathways. Flue gas, rich in CO2 from a lignite-fired power station, feeds these designer micro-organisms. The process creates biomass and industrial products such as new biomaterials, bioplastics and chemical by-products. Possible applications, now being explored, include building and isolation materials and the production of fine and specialty chemicals. An experimental plant is to be located at RWE Power's Coal Innovation Centre, at its Niederaussem power plant site. BRAIN, a leader in white biotechnology, has access to hitherto unknown micro-organisms. Millions of innovative enzymes and synthesis routes and pathways are at its fingertips. With such a comprehensive 'natural toolbox,' the technologies of synthetic biology make it possible to design more effective micro-organisms. These, in turn, can provide a source of new product and material developments from CO2. Working together, BRAIN and RWE Power are researching and producing these innovative designer micro-organisms. They should be able to integrate more CO2 more efficiently using pathway engineering – and the use of new and enhanced synthesis-routes and pathways. These novel micro-organisms should prove more efficient than previously known species. "Our search for biotechnological solutions to CO2 conversion proves a point: we have the energy to lead in climate conservation," declares Dr. Johannes Lambertz, CEO at RWE Power. "Our goal is constant expansion of our range in this field. As well as reducing and storing carbon dioxide, we want to develop further intelligent uses. Quite deliberately, we are combining what we know about power generation with the expertise of specialist companies such as BRAIN. We want to find as many different solutions as possible," adds Lambertz. "The targeted use of 'nature's toolbox' is making many industrial processes more effective, environmentally compatible and more sustainable. White biotech is a pointer to the industry of the future, which will conserve the environment and its resources," notes Dr Holger Zinke. As co-founder and executive chairman of BRAIN, he was a winner of the German Environmental Award from Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt in 2008. "Working with RWE Power, we want to advance into a new aera of CO2 conversion," explains BRAIN's Research Director, Dr Jürgen Eck. "There is a variety of microbial engineering pathways, while synthetic biology offers possibilities. Both lead to more efficient CO2 conversion, using these powerful designer micro-organisms. So we are positive about the future success of our co-operation." RWE Power operates the Coal Innovation Centre at its Niederaussem power plant site. It has made this the centre of its activities for environmentally friendly power generation from coal. The company already operates Germany's first CO2 scrubbing plant here. This is a prototype for pre-drying lignite (WTA fluid bed drying system). The plant utilises internal waste heat, and a REAplus high-performance scrubber, to improve the separation of dust and sulphur dioxide from the flue gas. Also, RWE's algae project integrates carbon dioxide with plant matter which can then be used as biomass, for example. All projects are working in conjunction with what is currently the world's most modern and efficient lignite-fired power plant (BoA1), and represent a total investment of EUR 90 million. Date of News 1/4/2010 12:00:00 AM Company Name RWE Issue Type Management Issue Research Country Germany