Rohstoffwerk Weser –
LIFE SRF 4.0
Ecologically trend-setting
Circular economy needs space to separate and sort materials in order to recover raw materials. The Weser raw materials plant in Bremen is a fundamental contribution to sustainable resource production. In addition, our treatment of materials reduces the transport volume by up to 38%, so that we save on traffic and emissions.
Sustainable recycling raw materials for our future
- 43,000 m² area
- 12,500 m² enclosed hall
- 30 new workplaces
The following will take place at the site:
Sorting iron and non-iron metals:
At the site, we sort, collect and treat unmixed production waste such as thin steel sheets in order to return them to the Circular economy in a reduced form.
Processing of substitute fuel:
We use waste from treatment plants to produce qualified fuel that replaces fossil fuels. We do this with the help of shredders, metal separators, screening technology, air classifiers and near-infrared scanners.
Treatment of commercial waste:
We use state-of-the-art sorting technology to separate mixed commercial waste back into its individual fractions so that they can be shredded and pressed and returned to the material cycle.
Treatment of waste wood:
In our wood processing plant, we remove metals and adhesions from wood, sort and shred it. The waste wood is then ready for further use as wood chips.
All facilities and areas are planned and implemented in accordance with current legislation and approval guidelines:
- Safety for people and the environment is guaranteed by modern protective equipment as well as the latest fire alarm technology.
- Dust and odor emissions are already reduced to a minimum - through ventilation technology and the closed hall.
- Protection against noise emissions is provided by the enclosed hall and the site's elaborate traffic concept.
Grant agreement
LIFE22-ENV-DE-LIFE SRF 4.0 / Project 101113579
Although the main goal of the EU is the reduction of waste, the total amount is still growing. Moreover, 40% of EU waste remains unused which is an enormous loss of resources and energy (e.g., currently non-recyclable plastics). Since not every type of waste can be prepared for re-use, innovative concepts need to be developed to avoid landfilling. SRF 4.0 will construct a first-of-its kind demonstration plant (input capacity 100,000 t/a), including the latest available technology for sorting industrial, commercial and household waste. This permits maximum recovery of valuable materials such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals (1,400 t/a) and plastics (7,600 t/a). The remaining non-recyclable waste will be processed to sustainable and customisable high quality solid recovered fuel (SRF 91,000 t/a), which can be used by EIIs (e.g., cement, lime, steel, glass industry) as alternative fuel to reduce their GHG emission and to decrease EUs fossil energy import dependence. However, to use SRF as a fully-fledged fossil fuel substitute, precise and specific specifications must be met. An adjustable waste feed system, implementing five different types of waste, enables to control the characteristics of the SRF from the outset, depending on later application. A more specific separation of the input streams into four different SRF process lines will be implemented to a) increase recycling rates of each stream and b) guarantee constant quality of the 4 produced SRFs. The entire production process is controlled by an AI based real-time monitoring and process management allowing to adjust and readjust the process as fast as possible. This requires the additional use of sensor technology such as Near-Infrared cameras, moisture sensors, XRF and belt scales. The waste treatment process described in this project will contribute significantly to circular economy, since the whole amount of incoming waste will be or recycled or processed to products for thermal recovery (zero waste).
Nehlsen Aktiengesellschaft (AG)
Institute for Energy, Recycling and Environmental Protection at Bremen University of Applied Sciences
01.02.2022
Nehlsen acquires the land and building at Kap-Horn-Str. 30
08 March 2022
Joint planning between company and authorities begins with the pre-application conference
July 2023
EU review of the project's SRF production eligibility for funding with a positive result
January 2024
Nehlsen submits the application for a permit
December 2025
Planned commissioning
January 2026
Planned start of regular operation
