The university's activities for Sustainable Development and Goal 7 presented in the reports for 2021-2022 and 2020-2021 "Lodz University of Technology on the path of sustainable development".
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is one of the ways of converting biomass into a gaseous fuel – biogas or hydrogen, depending on how the process is carried out. Biological conversion of biomass to energy is carried out in many units of TUL. An example is the thermophilic two-stage process of anaerobic digestion of various bio-waste generated in households with an innovative microbiological preparation developed at TUL, supporting the processes of hydrolysis and preliminary decomposition of
lignocellulosic substances.
Particularly noteworthy are the research carried out in cooperation with industrial partners. Scientists from the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences are developing an innovative technology for converting fruit and vegetable waste
into methane, hydrogen and high-value organic fertilizer.
It is based on a two-stage AD process of fruit waste, where hydrogen is recovered in the first stage and methane
in the second. The obtained results will be used to develop a biogas installation in the Warmia Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant in Kwidzyn.
The implementation of the technology will allow for the management of waste at the place of its origin, and the energy obtained will be used in the production process of frozen food. The use of digestate as a valuable fertilizer will contribute to the introduction of circular economy on the premises of the plant.
New trends in waste processing developed by scientists, TUL used in cooperation with KSC "Polish Cukier" S.A., developing biomass processing technology.
This interdisciplinary project has created an industrial installation in which waste generated during sugar production is processed into a mixture of hydrogen and methane by means of two-step fermentation. In addition, an innovative installation for storing hydrogen in the form of metal hydrides was created, which will also be used to produce electricity and heat, ensuring energy self-sufficiency of the sewage treatment plant in the sugar factory.
At TUL, a modern technology of biomass torification using superheated steam is being developed. Thanks to it, it will be possible to produce fuel blends, biochar as an additive to fertilizers and activated carbon, as well as to recover by-products (e.g. formic acid and acetic acid), which have so far been burned, i.e. irretrievably lost, increasing the emission of waste gases.
The issue of obtaining energy from solar radiation is studied at TUL in various aspects of, among others, modern solar panel constructions as well as their operation in the aspect of the stability of the power grid.
The dynamic development of the RES sector (especially photovoltaics in the prosumer sector) in Poland has brought a significant change in the structure of low-voltage power grids. The presence of these sources in distribution networks affects the operating conditions of the network.
The Institute of Electrical Power Engineering at TUL, together with leading transmission partners and other universities, as part of the PROSUMENT project, coordinates research on the development of advanced methods of controlling the operation of photovoltaic sources, which will allow to increase the production of renewable energy in prosumer installations while maintaining stable operation of the network and system.
Parallel to the research on hybrid systems, scientists from the Department of Semiconductor and Optoelectronic Devices at TUL created the basis for the construction of photovoltaic cells using layers containing ZnO nanoparticles as energy converters. It is an innovative solution that provides a solid foundation for the further stage of photovoltaic development. The use of radiation converting layers based on zinc oxide nanoparticles will enable more effective use of solar radiation in the photovoltaic process. The use of a cheap material such as ZnO and inexpensive layering methods will reduce energy costs.
Useful energy can be obtained from solar energy in two ways – as electricity in photovoltaic elements or as thermal energy in solar collectors.
Photovoltaic panels usually have an efficiency of 12-18%, while the rest of the solar energy is converted into heat in them, increasing the temperature of the photovoltaic elements. This has a negative impact on the efficiency of photovoltaic
conversion of the panel. Unfortunately, it decreases with an increase in the temperature of the element by 0.4-0.9%
for each degree above the rated temperature.
The Department of Semiconductor and Optoelectronic Devices at TUL located at the Faculty of Electrical, Electronic, Computer and Control Engineering conducts research on an extremely promising technique that improves the efficiency of a photovoltaic panel. The aim is to make this type of panel as a hybrid, containing an integrated photovoltaic part and a thermal energy collector. Such a system provides both electricity and heat, while cooling the photovoltaic elements. It is often called the PV/T system and in the version with a water collector, and its total efficiency of converting solar energy into useful energy can reach up to 50-60%.
New methods for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts developed at the Institute of General and Ecological
Chemistry enable the production of multifunctional, unique catalytic systems enabling the production of fuels from renewable sources (e.g. alcohols or hydrocarbons) by reforming, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, transesterification reactions and hydrocracking. Depending on the process conditions and the catalyst used, it allows the production of alternative fuels – from light hydrocarbons and isoalkanes (gasoline and jet fuel) to ethyl esters of higher fatty acids (biodiesel).
New extremely efficient, selective and stable heterogeneous catalysts applied to carbon oxide systems or nanotubes are
being developed, above others, to produce hydrogen, an ecological clean fuel, in the process of oxy-steam reforming of methanol, methane or LNG.
Both modern liquid and gaseous fuels obtained by catalytic means reduce or completely reduce exhaust emissions, thus reducing environmental pollution.
On the TUL campus, a passive office building was built for the needs of the administration and students of Lodz University of Technology. The structure, with a total area of 1600 m2, will be powered exclusively by solar energy, which will significantly reduce operating costs.
The building has been modernized according to the latest technologies. It is equipped with photovoltaic panels, placed in the windows, on the roof and façade of the building. In addition, heat pumps are installed in the building, which will allow to reduce the energy consumption needed for current operation.
TUL is implementing an ambitious, long-term, plan for the development of renewable energy sources to the energy
needs of the university campus. At the moment, photovoltaic installations with a total capacity of 15.5kW, wind turbines with a capacity of 11kW and fuel cells with a capacity of 2.4kW are installed on the TUL campus. In 2020, renewables provided 16MWh of clean electricity.
Lodz University of Technology has in its educational offer a number of faculties, in the programs of which there are subjects related to the production and processing of clean energy. The subjects focus on energy production, transfer and distribution.
Ecological energy sources are an example of a specialty implemented at the second degree studies at the Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering at TUL as part of the field of Environmental Engineering.
On the other hand, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environmental Engineering, classes related to both alternative / renewable energy sources and sustainable construction are carried out, among others in the field of first and second degree studies - environmental engineering in construction.
Graduates of TUL find employment in companies and institutions involved in the design and installation of devices using
renewable energy sources, in the power industry and heating, as well as in regional and local government agencies operating within the framework of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, as well as in scientific institutions.
Students take part in scientific projects related to renewable energy sources.
TUL has modern didactic laboratories, among others waste management, or modern laboratory stations for testing heat pumps, solar collectors.
Acquiring sustainable gaseous fuels in the form of methane and hydrogen with the simultaneous management of biodegradable waste and its conversion to valuable fertilisers using anaerobic digestion has long been an object of research by TUL scientists. In their current work, TUL scientists are focusing on the implementation of scientific results on a larger scale. Researchers at the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences are developing an innovative technology for converting fruit and vegetable waste into methane, hydrogen and high-value organic fertiliser. It is based on a two-stage AD process for fruit and vegetable waste, where hydrogen is recovered in the first stage and methane in the second. The results obtained will be used to develop a biogas plant at Warmińskie Zakłady Przetwórstwa Owocowo-Warzywnego in Kwidzyn. Implementation of the technology will allow waste to be managed on-site, and the energy obtained will be used in the production of frozen food. The use of the digestate as a valuable fertiliser will contribute to the introduction of a circular economy at the plant.
The GUST (Generative Urban Small Turbine) team from Lodz University of Technology took second place in the International Small Wind Turbine Contest 2022, organised by Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and held in June 2022. As part of the competition, students from TUL presented a backyard four-bladed wind turbine with a horizontal axis of rotation in two different versions due to the geometry of the blades. The turbine with the latest blade geometry with an oblique tip proved to be the most effective. Its prototype produced more than 1 KWh of electricity in 13 m/s winds. This is both the best result of all the teams taking part in the event and a record for the team in its seven years of operation. GUST is a student project launched in October 2015. It is run by members of the Student Scientific Circle of Energy Scientists (SKNE), operating at the Institute of Turbomachinery of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at TUL. However, GUST brings together students from a number of TUL faculties who are united by the idea of working on a problem concerning wind energy
Solar energy generation is studied at TUL in various aspects, including modern solar panel designs as well as their operation in terms of grid stability.
Hybrid panels
A team of researchers from the TUL's Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, in collaboration with foreign partners under the Hiperion project, is researching the development of breakthrough technology in the area of highly concentrated photovoltaics - hybrid photovoltaic cells. The project involves building a pilot installation of photovoltaic panels using optical micro-tracking technology that lenses sunlight onto the solar panels, significantly increasing the efficiency of the panels. The TUL team's role is to determine the environmental effects associated with the production and operation of the panels, including the determination of the environmental payback time, i.e. the time after which the clean energy produced by the panels will compensate for the environmental expenditure incurred in their construction.
Modern design solutions
The same faculty is also developing, in collaboration with partner countries, complex systems for energy-activated external thermal insulation, a novel multifunctional building component based on a combination of existing advanced energy technologies: phase-change materials and flexible photovoltaics. The project identifies, tests and implements innovative ways to promote energy efficiency in buildings and supports technologies that are environmentally friendly, economically sound and implementable, encouraging more sustainable energy use. The use of flexible photovoltaics (FPV) as an external ETICS finish is an innovative approach that will allow on-site energy production, but also addresses the demand for modern design, facade aesthetics. Moreover, this solution will transform the future market for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) from a niche activity to a potential mass market. The proposed system is expected to be more cost-effective compared to traditional BIPV facades. The project will create a new product for external walls, characterised by ease of application and flexibility. Furthermore, through the use of PCM, the proposed solution is a new step in the development of thermal insulation material technology allowing for a product categorised as a smart material.
New methods for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts developed at the Institute of General and Environmental Chemistry make it possible to produce multifunctional, unique catalytic systems allowing fuels from renewable sources (e.g. alcohols or hydrocarbons) to be obtained by reforming, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, transesterification reactions and hydrocracking. Depending on the process conditions and the catalyst used, it allows the production of alternative fuels ranging from light hydrocarbons and isoalkanes (petrol and jet fuel) to ethyl esters of higher fatty acids (biodiesel). New extremely efficient, selective and stable heterogeneous catalysts, applied to oxide systems or carbon nanotubes, are being developed, among others, for the production of hydrogen, a clean, green fuel, in the oxy-steam reforming of methanol, methane or LNG. Both modern liquid and gaseous fuels obtained through catalytic processes reduce, or entirely reduce, exhaust emissions, thereby reducing environmental pollution.
In many companies and institutions, electricity related to heating, ventilation or air conditioning (HVAC) accounts for more than 60% of total consumption. Researchers from the TUL's Institute of Applied Computer Science are working on a smart system project that will help save electricity and take care of the comfort of the working environment. They are working on optimising energy management in companies together with the IDANET company and the STIPENDIUM Institute of Science and Technology. The new energy management system will guarantee automatic control of energy efficiency. By intelligently monitoring the most important air parameters (such as temperature, humidity, pressure, VOC concentration), as well as noise and light levels, it will be possible to ensure the highest workplace standards while rationalising electricity consumption. The system under development - METERNET-EnMS - is an intelligent extension of one of the flagship products of IDANET, the project leader. The product created within the consortium, thanks to the intelligent algorithms developed at the Faculty of Technical Physics, Information Technology and Applied Mathematics, is an innovation on a European scale and has the potential to revolutionise the market for automatic electricity management systems.
Passive building
A passive office building for TUL's administration and students was completed in 2021. The structure, with a total area of 1,600 m2, is powered solely by solar energy, significantly reducing running costs. The building has been modernised according to the latest technology. It is equipped with photovoltaic panels, located in the windows, on the roof and on the facade of the building. In addition, heat pumps are installed in the building, making it possible to reduce the energy required for day-to-day operation. This translates into correspondingly lower emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. More information.
The Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy has provided TUL with PLN 11.5 million for the thermal modernisation of the university's two buildings. The funds come from the EU's Infrastructure and Environment 2014-2020 programme. The first of the modernised buildings is the future home of the Centre of Excellence for Universal Design (a place to train staff who will create new solutions to ensure social accessibility), and the second will house a kindergarten for the children of TUL staff, doctoral students and students. The project will effectively adapt two old buildings located on Campus A. The facilities will be brought up to current standards and technical conditions. Thermomodernisation of the buildings at Lodz University of Technology will contribute to reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. When the work is completed, the buildings will be modern and energy efficient.
Lodz University of Technology offers a number of courses that include subjects related to the production and processing of clean energy. The subjects focus on energy production, transfer and distribution. Ecological energy sources is an example of a specialisation implemented at second-cycle studies at the Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering of TUL as part of the Environmental Engineering course. On the other hand, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environmental Engineering, courses related to both alternative/renewable energy sources and sustainable construction are offered, e.g. in the course Environmental Engineering in Construction. TUL graduates find employment in companies and institutions involved in the design and installation of equipment using renewable energy sources, in the energy and heating sectors, as well as in regional and local government agencies working in the field of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, and in scientific institutions. Students take part in scientific projects related to renewable energy sources. TUL has state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, e.g. for waste management, or modern laboratory stations for testing heat pumps and solar collectors.