Distinguished guest aboard the MS Wissenschaft: When it comes to future energy technologies, Saarland’s Minister for Finance and Science, Jakob von Weizsäcker, is on board – in this case quite literally, aboard the floating science center MS Wissenschaft, which currently has anchored in Saarbrücken.
Topics showcased on the ship range from climate-friendly construction and smart energy management to hydrogen technologies, all explained through hands-on exhibits below deck. At the INM booth, Wilfried Weber and Volker Presser welcomed the minister, who – with a background in natural sciences – quickly connected with the INM’s research focus.
Using an interactive 3D animation, Stefanie Arnold and Volker Presser demonstrated how the valuable resource lithium can be extracted from mine water, geothermal water, and even seawater. The technology, developed by the Energy Materials research group at INM, works without chemicals and with minimal energy input. This stands in stark contrast to conventional lithium extraction methods used in mines and salt flats in Australia, China, and South America – methods that pose significant risks to the environment and human health and require long transport routes to Europe.
