Green Technologies

What Are Green Technologies?

The term green technology is increasingly coming into focus – and for good reason:

The transition to a climate-friendly and resource-efficient economy is among the central challenges of our time. To shape this transformation successfully, innovative and sustainable technologies are essential. But what exactly does the term green technology mean? What does it stand for – and how can these technologies contribute to solving the major ecological and societal challenges of today?

Definition: What Does Green Technology Mean?

Green technologies – also referred to as GreenTech or environmental technology – include all technologies aimed at minimising environmental impacts or using natural resources more efficiently. The goal is to combine ecological sustainability with economic development. Green technologies are therefore intended not only to help protect the environment but also to provide environmentally friendly alternatives to existing processes and products.

Fields of Application for Green Technologies

Green technologies are now present in many key sectors of the economy – particularly in areas characterised by high resource consumption or CO₂ emissions, or those already heavily affected by climate change. Here are some examples:

Here are some Examples:

• Sponge city concepts store rainwater locally, relieving the sewer system during heavy rainfall.
• Wastewater treatment plants function as biorefineries, recovering valuable raw materials such as phosphorus or nitrogen.
• Hydrogen production from treated wastewater represents an innovative link between water and energy sectors.
• Climate-friendly and energy-efficient processes are being established in wastewater treatment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as nitrous oxide.
• Smart water network management helps detect leaks at an early stage and minimise water losses.

These technologies contribute to securing drinking water supplies, conserving resources, and reducing emissions.

• Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU): CO₂ is captured directly at the source and subsequently used as a raw material – for example, in the production of plastics, construction materials, or synthetic fuels. In this way, carbon becomes the basis for new products and cycles.
• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Here, captured CO₂ is permanently stored underground – e.g. in depleted oil and gas reservoirs or in deep saline aquifers. This technology ensures the long-term binding of CO₂ and is particularly relevant for hard-to-avoid emissions.

Both methods are central building blocks of integrated carbon management. They contribute to closing material cycles and creating new economic opportunities.

In waste separation and recycling, technologies for material flow analysis, sorting, and reuse are at the forefront. In waste collection and logistics, optimised route planning and low-emission collection vehicles improve efficiency across the entire process.

The aim is a holistic, circular system that views waste not as a problem but as a resource – a foundation for the ecological transformation of the economy.

Digitalisation, for example, enables better information flows:

• materials and equipment can be used more efficiently,
• routes shortened,
• and intelligent connections established.

• Solar energy: Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight into electricity.
• Wind energy: Turbines harness wind power to generate electricity.
• Hydropower: River currents and gradients are utilised for energy production.
• Geothermal energy: Heat from beneath the earth’s surface is used for heating or power generation.
• Biomass: Organic matter such as wood or crop residues serves as fuel.

These technologies reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or gas – and thus also lower CO₂ emissions.