While many companies strive to neutralise their CO₂ footprint, the Bavarian startup Reverion takes it a step further: their innovative power plants, housed in green freight containers, enable a negative CO₂ balance. Reverion was spun off from the Technical University of Munich and has already received numerous prestigious start-up awards and funding, including awards from the Federal Ministries of Economics and Climate Protection, Education and Research and initiatives such as SPRIN-D and the European Innovation Council.
A key element of Reverion’s technology is the efficient conversion of electricity into storage gas—either green hydrogen or synthetic methane—and vice versa, addressing the challenges of the energy transition. This is how the challenges of the energy transition are mastered. In combination with a biogas plant, their container solutions not only convert power, but can even actively bind CO₂ and make it available for sustainable further use or permanent storage - a decisive contribution to combating climate change. Reverion is supported by technology partner Weidmüller, which provides tailored hardware and software solutions to accelerate mass production and industrial implementation.
Reverion’s patented technology is based on high-temperature fuel cells with a unique reversible system design. During operation, biogas, hydrogen, or methane is converted into electricity, while in electrolysis mode, the same system can transform electrical energy into hydrogen or methane. This allows excess energy to be stored as gas, which can later be reconverted into electricity when needed. In both modes, the system achieves a groundbreaking electrical efficiency of up to 80%. Given the fluctuations in solar and wind energy availability, a flexible and reliable energy management system is essential. Reverion’s technology provides a forward-thinking solution, supporting the transition towards a climate-neutral future.
Although traditional biogas plants contribute to the generation of renewable power, they release CO₂ when generating electricity using combined heat and power plants. As this CO₂ was originally absorbed off the atmosphere by plants during their growth, it is merely recycled. This means that no additional CO₂ is produced, which means that the process can already be considered offset and therefore climate-neutral.
Reverion aims to revolutionise biogas plants by replacing conventional gas generators with their high-temperature fuel cell power plant. Reverion's system doubles the efficiency of the plants, enabling up to 100 % more power to be obtained from the same quantity of biogas. The CO₂ content is also extracted off the biogas and can be stored as pure, biogenic CO₂. The stored CO₂ can be used as carbon dioxide in the beverage industry or in breweries, for example.
A standout feature of Reverion’s technology is its flexibility and rapid switching between operational modes. When there is excess electricity from solar or wind power, the Reverion unit can store it by converting it into hydrogen or synthetic methane. “In this case, our unit functions as an electrolyser,” explains Konrad Bierlein, Production Engineer for Electrical Engineering at Reverion. The generated hydrogen can be sold to hydrogen refuelling stations, while the synthetic methane can be fed into the gas grid. Conversely, the system can switch modes in less than a minute, using the same fuel cells to generate electricity and feed power into the grid on demand, for example, during periods of low renewable energy generation. This makes Reverion a key technology for making the energy transition practical and scalable.
nside Reverion’s green containers, advanced thermal and chemical processes are controlled by cutting-edge process technology and high-tech automation. Through close collaboration with global electrical and connectivity experts such as Weidmüller, the startup—already managing a high volume of pre-orders—has one less concern to worry about.
By integrating Weidmüller components and services, the efficiency of Reverion’s plants is further increased. Weidmüller contributes its extensive technology experience in the development of automation and hydrogen monitoring, enabling Reverion to operate its complex process safely and efficiently. Weidmüller's innovative products for stack monitoring are crucial for the security and efficient operation of these central system components in conjunction with the other units.
As an experienced technology partner, Weidmüller supports the operation of Reverion's systems with customised solutions in the areas of automation, measurement and monitoring technology and all connectivity solutions. ""Our systems guarantee precise and secure operation in both modes. One example is the ACT20C module, which monitors voltage in the fuel cell stacks,” explains Dirk Bauerkämper, Head of Market Management New Energies at Weidmüller. These stacks, which are responsible for electrolysis and fuel cell operation, are at the heart of the Reverion technology. Their compact design, high insulation voltage, and multi-channel configuration make Weidmüller’s solutions ideal for these plants.
As hydrogen continues to be recognised as a future-proof energy carrier, Reverion’s technology stands out because it can optimise existing biogas plants while also enabling CO₂-negative operation. By combining renewable gas production with electricity generation, Reverion’s systems not only offer major efficiency gains but also enhance energy supply flexibility. In periods of solar and wind energy fluctuations, the technology ensures reliable reconversion of stored energy into electricity—while also providing additional revenue streams for agricultural businesses. “While others are still developing hydrogen strategies, Reverion is already deploying the technology. This is a real game changer. At Weidmüller, as pioneers in electrical engineering, we are particularly excited to support such groundbreaking projects,” concludes Bauerkämper.
Image sources: Reverion GmbH, Lisa Männel / Fabian Vogl / Fotostudio Imago
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Cengiz Oguzoglu