The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) announced on Thursday that engineer Thomas Speidel, who developed a fast-charging electric vehicle battery system, was one of the winners.
The foundation's jury also named marsh researcher Franziska Tanneberger, a driving force behind marsh restoration, as co-recipient of the German Environment Prize, with the pair sharing the 500,000 euro ($555,000) prize.
Why are battery systems important?
As managing director of Ads-Tec Energy, the engineer developed an innovative battery system for fast charging.
Spiedel described his charging system as “like the Swiss Army knife of the energy transition.”
The idea is to make it possible to charge a car in just a few minutes, even on a low-power grid from very compact stations.
Spiedel explained that new battery technologies could help facilitate a rapid and comprehensive expansion of charging infrastructure, which is currently difficult to manage.
He said the battery-buffered fast chargers could be flexibly installed on roads, business buildings and in residential areas without garages or wall boxes.
DBU Secretary General Alexander Bonde called the engineer a “pioneer for climate-friendly electric vehicles.”
How wilderness can help stop climate change
Tumberger was committed to protecting the marshes, Bonde said, adding that he was instrumental in positioning the importance of protecting and “rewetting” the marshes in national and international political decision-making processes.
Wetlands also help to mitigate climate change by storing greenhouse gases and acting as carbon sinks.
Rewetting means returning degraded peatlands to their original waterlogged state, ultimately helping to restore peatlands.
Tannberger is committed to preserving the marshland and “works with farmers to envision its use, even while wearing his rubber boots,” Bonde said.
“For her, protecting the marshes and using them are not a contradiction,” Bonde added.
The German Environment Prize recognises outstanding achievements in the protection of the environment, climate and biodiversity. The award will be presented by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on October 27 in the western German city of Mainz.
rc/sms (AFP, dpa, KNA)
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