What potential lies in a consistently implemented circular economy?
The URBAN MENUS CircularityOptimizer provides concrete answers and reveals the true potential of a location. Combining the interactive technology catalogue developed by AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC), 3D scenario previews in URBAN MENUS by BUSarchitektur, and the impact analysis by akaryon, it enables the analysis of local energy and material flows, the identification of patterns, and the targeted development of circularity potential.
Which technologies make sense – and where?
Pilot projects in China and Austria demonstrate that both industry and society can benefit from industrial symbiosis when technologies are integrated in line with local conditions and requirements.
In the Austrian pilot project centred around the Gleisdorf wastewater treatment plant, a baseline scenario consisting of photovoltaics and heat pumps was expanded to include biogas combined heat and power, membrane distillation, and phosphorus recovery.
Circularity rate increased from 0% to nearly 40% in the Austrian pilot project
The result: the share of materials circulated within the site increased from 0% to 38.7% — measurable evidence of how integrated technology solutions can structurally reduce resource losses.