Digital ecosystems
Infrastructure as the foundation of sustainable development
Sustainable development begins with functioning infrastructure. In many regions, however, communities face complex challenges. Unfortunately, a reliable energy supply, access to clean water, safe food production and resilient local systems are often lacking.
This is precisely where our projects come in, to ensure the right to basic services. We develop solutions that integrate energy, utilities and infrastructure to create stable livelihoods in the long term.
These include, amongst others:
- decentralised power supply through renewable energy
- charging infrastructure for electric mobility
- water and basic supply systems
- digital and remote-controlled aquaculture to ensure food security
- crisis-resilient infrastructure for communities
The focus here is on systems that are operated, maintained and further developed locally and can be digitally operated using modern sensor systems.
Local infrastructure as the key to resilient communities
Many regions face fundamental challenges: a lack of energy supply, unreliable access to water and limited opportunities for local food production.
Why are decentralised solutions so important?
The expansion of large centralised infrastructure, such as electricity grids or supply facilities, is often associated with high costs and lengthy planning and construction times. For many remote regions, this means that a stable energy supply is still years or even decades away.
Decentralised systems offer a different approach here. Local energy and infrastructure solutions can be implemented much more quickly, can be adapted to regional conditions and function independently of large networks. This creates crisis-resilient structures that reliably support communities even during supply bottlenecks or infrastructure disruptions.
Our solutions
Decentralised energy supply
In Tanzania, average electricity consumption per person is around 123 kWh per year; in Germany, it is around 1,400 kWh. Whilst cities are often connected to the electricity grid, many rural regions remain without a reliable energy supply.
Our solution is decentralised, solar-based systems. Modular Powerhouse systems can provide communities with a sustainable electricity supply, independent of expensive power grids.
Water supply
Around 40% of people in Tanzania do not have reliable access to clean drinking water. This means that the fundamental right to clean water is still not guaranteed in many places. At the same time, droughts, floods and climate change are putting increasing pressure on water resources.
Decentralised water treatment and sustainable infrastructure can help to supply communities with clean drinking water in the long term.
Food security
Tanzania is one of the countries with the fastest population growth in the world. At the same time, important food sources such as fish stocks are coming under increasing pressure due to climate change, overfishing and changes to ecosystems.
Sustainable fish production and innovative aquaculture can help relieve pressure on natural stocks whilst creating a reliable food source for local communities
Sustainable infrastructure through smart sensor systems
In collaboration with the Heinrich Hertz Institute in Goslar and Clausthal University of Technology, we are developing innovative solutions for digitally controllable ecosystems. One example of this is our digitally controlled fish farm in Tanzania. Through the use of fibre-optic sensor systems, key parameters such as water quality, temperature and technical conditions can be continuously monitored and evaluated remotely.
These technologies enable precise control and efficient maintenance of aquaculture systems. Together with local companies and partners, the systems are integrated, operated and further developed locally.
A key principle here is the so-called Digital Twin: based on sensor data, a virtual model of the facility is created that digitally replicates the real-world conditions on site. This system provides operators and farmers with up-to-date information and supports them in their day-to-day management.
This results in networked infrastructure solutions that not only function reliably from a technical perspective but also ensure a stable supply in the long term and meet the growing demand in these regions.
