The DGO event "Sustainability and Climate Neutrality - Challenges and Opportunities for Electrochemical Processes and Electroplating" was introduced by a clear to provocative keynote speech. The first part of the technical program then focused on electrochemical processes for solar energy generation and battery systems. An electrochemical wafering process based on SiC was presented for the production of solar cells with a current maximum efficiency of 24 percent. In the context of raw material scarcity, recycling processes are becoming increasingly important. Electrochemical options were discussed for electrical scrap and rare earth magnets.
In the second part of the event, the focus was on operations, energy and energy management. For alkaline ZnNi electrolytes, the example of 3S anodes surrounded by porous ceramic membrane was used to show that separation into anolytes and catholytes can increase efficiency and reduce CO2 by a maximum of 75 percent. In a final contribution, the question of alternative carbon-free and renewable fuels was raised. For example, Fe-containing materials, but also scrap metal, can be burned and thus converted into electricity.