HAMBURG WASSER – HPA Hamburg Port
Authority Bio-economy-strategy for the Port of Hamburg

Description of the company

HAMBURG WASSER offers their services from clean water supply to sewage disposal. We are resolutely committed to conserving resources and preserving the basis of life for future generations in Hamburg. Together with our subsidiaries HAMBURG ENERGIE, CONSULAQUA and servTEC we invest our know-how and more than 175 years of experience in ground-breaking water and energy projects. We are helping to shape energy transition and adaptation to climate change for our home city of Hamburg and around the world.
HAMBURG PORT AUTHORITY (HPA) is the hub of the Port of Hamburg, the place where everything comes together. We are a skilled port manager, a public agency, and a modern service provider. Across the approx. 7,000-hectare port area, we keep goods flowing and put people in motion – on water, on roads, and on railways. Together with our subsidiaries, Flotte Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG and Cruise Gate Hamburg GmbH (CGH), we rely on innovative technology and intelligent solutions. As a property manager and commissioner of significant infrastructure construction projects, we contribute to shaping Hamburg’s Cityscape and make the port an important economic engine across the entire value-added chain and Germany.

Situation

At the turn of 2020/21, the cooperation project between HAMBURG WASSER, HAMBURG ENERGIE, and HPA was launched. The three companies, with the support of external consultants, are carrying out a concept study to develop a bio-economical strategy for the Port of Hamburg.
Biogenic raw materials are a central component of a bio-economy, of which new ideas for a modern cyclical management of raw materials are to be developed and applied with the help of environmentally conscious companies. Biogenic raw materials are made of organic materials. These are of great interest and may replace fossil resources in various industries in the future.
For this purpose, basic data on these raw materials and residual-materials-flow must be obtained. This can lead to an increase in added value and new materials, biotechnological, or thermal applications. The advantage of the use of biogenic raw materials is that they are climate neutral. The increased use of renewable raw materials can also contribute to the reduction of the use of fossil resources (petroleum) in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry and thus reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
The project bio-economy at the Port of Hamburg aims to support companies to increase their use of biogenic raw materials for their production and to consciously create closed life cycles in these industries. The main industry in focus for this project is the food industry, which is prominently represented in the Port of Hamburg (approx. 70 companies).

Problem

In order to identify an appropriate model for the subsequent main study, a preliminary study will be carried out as part of this project. For this purpose, different models are presented and tested, which will be developed from different approaches.
One of these models includes the so-called "Low-Hanging-Fruits" (LHF) method, in which the targeted companies, in this case the food industry, will be encouraged to participate in the project by showing the immediate advantages of implementing the LHF method. Experience has shown that rapid implementation of this type of project, costs the company little to no resources, can have a positive effect on the company’s image, and could be a financial advantage. Another goal of this project is to create publicity for either the participating companies or for the Port of Hamburg. 
The large project area of the Port of Hamburg does not lend itself to planning small projects. To start concrete LHF projects in the food industry sector the Port of Hamburg is a prime location to begin such an endeavor.
LHF projects require more detailed knowledge, which is discovered from company surveys. Since business surveys are lengthy, difficult, often not very productive, and unpopular, a direct route to companies is more promising. This is where the idea of "bio-scouts" comes in. We would like to search for bio-scouts and use them as a project group as part of the FfE programme.
As our "bio-scouts", the students are to identify the potential of biogenic raw materials from the participating companies in the food industry and then develop small LHF projects that are worthwhile for these companies.
In addition to the advantages for the participating companies, the cooperation partners are introduced to the model project "bio-economy" and its efficiencies. The findings from the results obtained from our cooperation partners will be valuable for further development of the "bio-economy" and will provide a quickly produced reliable basis for the continuation of this project.
In particular, students will have insight into the food industry under consideration, be exposed to cross-company cooperation between the above partner companies, and will be able to develop a network for later entry into their careers.

Aims of the project

As our "bio-scouts", the students are to identify the potential of biogenic raw materials from the participating companies in the food industry and then develop small LHF projects that are worthwhile for these companies.
In addition to the advantages for the participating companies, the cooperation partners are introduced to the model project "bio-economy" and its efficiencies. The findings from the results obtained from our cooperation partners will be valuable for further development of the "bio-economy" and will provide a quickly produced reliable basis for the continuation of this project.
In particular, students will have insight into the food industry under consideration, be exposed to cross-company cooperation between the above partner companies, and will be able to develop a network for later entry into their careers.

Scopes

• As our "bio-scouts", the students are to identify the potential of biogenic raw materials from the participating companies in the food industry and then develop small LHF projects that are worthwhile for these companies.
• In addition to the advantages for the participating companies, the cooperation partners are introduced to the model project "bio-economy" and its efficiencies. The findings from the results obtained from our cooperation partners will be valuable for further development of the "bio-economy" and will provide a quickly produced reliable basis for the continuation of this project.
• In particular, students will have insight into the food industry under consideration, be exposed to cross-company cooperation between the above partner companies, and will be able to develop a network for later entry into their careers.

Target group (students)

TUHH students are interested and motivated to work independently and proactively with the participating companies in the food industry in order to learn about the handling of raw materials in these companies.
The students must have knowledge of:

• biogenic raw materials and modern recycling processes (in companies),
• resource use and efficiency and,
• innovative environmental and process technology.

 In addition, the students will be bringing enthusiasm and the ability to develop creative ideas for a new way of dealing with these raw materials. 
Upper class bachelor's degree students in the fields of process engineering, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, and management are likely to be suitable candidates for this project.

Dates

Please reserve these dates: Fishing for Experience Termine

Registration

Here you can find all information about the application procedure and registration.