Building a Circular Future: Outcomes of the ESEIA International Summer School 2025

The European Sustainable Energy Innovation Alliance (ESEIA), together with members TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences and the Bergischer Abfallwirtschaftsverband (BAV), successfully held the ESEIA International Summer School 2025 from 22 to 26 September at :metabolon in Lindlar, Germany.

This year’s programme brought participants to the award-winning :metabolon research and education center, a unique hub recognized for advancing circular innovation. Throughout the week, students, researchers, and professionals explored the theme “Circular Economy in Industry” through lectures, workshops, and technical visits, gaining hands-on experience with practical solutions for waste recycling, resource efficiency, and industrial symbiosis.

The ESEIA International Summer School 2025 – ESEIA ISS25 began with an introduction to the transformation of :metabolon from a landfill into an innovation hub, followed by an overview of the education and research facilities available on site

Key Highlights of the Programme

Waste Recycling Workshop – “Where Does It Go?”
Led by Miriam Sartor and Christian Wolf (TH Köln), participants traced waste streams from the Kleinanlieferstelle (small delivery station), learning how materials are sorted and prepared for further processing.
Fermentation and Composting Plant Visit
Guided by Elena Eßer (BAV), the group explored how organic waste is transformed into valuable resources.
Academic Exchange at TH Köln, Campus Deutz
Karolina Ochwat welcomed participants into the laboratories, offering insights into how research underpins scalable circular economy solutions.
Ash Residue Processing
Robin Dietsch (BAV) introduced advanced methods for treating bottom ash, highlighting how metals and other materials can be recovered from incineration residues.
Building Waste Laboratory
Sebastian Trampnau and Lukas Quast demonstrated innovative approaches to handling construction debris, one of Europe’s most resource-intensive waste streams.
Workshop on Biogas – New Opportunities and Technologies
Himanshu Himanshu (TH Köln) led an in-depth session on anaerobic digestion, unpacking its role in waste treatment, nutrient recycling, and renewable energy generation.
Industrial Visit to AVEA Leverkusen
A guided tour of one of the region’s largest industrial waste facilities, offering a real-world view of complex waste management operations.
Leachate Treatment Facility & Final Presentations
Participants concluded their journey with a visit to the landfill leachate treatment facility, followed by group presentations, which connected the technical knowledge gained with practical strategies for advancing circular economy solutions.

Beyond Knowledge Exchange

The ESEIA ISS25 was more than a training opportunity: it fostered international networking and collaboration among participants from Romania, Italy, Austria, and Iran. The combination of academic input, industrial site visits, and interactive workshops created a unique environment where theory met practice. Final group presentations underscored this by bridging knowledge from the classroom and the field into actionable ideas.

Looking Ahead

Participants received ECTS credits for their engagement. Feedback highlighted the value of the extensive hands-on programme, as well as opportunities to strengthen future editions with more advanced theoretical input.

The ESEIA ISS25 once again demonstrated how research, innovation, and collaboration can accelerate Europe’s transition toward a sustainable and circular future.

We look forward to welcoming new participants at the ESEIA International Summer School 2026.

ESEIA Education and Training Programme (ETP)

Since its inception in 2009, the ESEIA Education and Training Programme (ETP) offers students, academics and professionals a wide range of training formats to develop knowledge and skills in smart energy systems.

In 15 years, ESEIA has welcomed a total of 1,750 participants in 44 Events building capacity of people and institutions using 7 formats: 16 International Summer Schools, 7 Lectures, 6 Bi-Annual Conferences, 4 Decarbonisation Workshops for Industry, 2 Brokerage Events, 2 Student Camps, 2 Pilot Plant Courses.

Learn more about the ESEIA Education and Training Programme (ETP): https://eseia.eu/education-and-training/

Watch the ESEIA ISS25 official video: