Award winning idea for greater sustainability
Award winning idea for greater sustainability
Award winning idea for greater sustainability
Award winning idea for greater sustainability
A team of four apprentices from Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH has won the VDMA ‘Carbon Busters 2025’ award with an innovative concept for reducing emissions. Their idea was an energy self sufficient training center.
How can emissions at a site be reduced in practical terms? This was the question the four apprentices addressed in their VDMA ‘Carbon Busters 2025’ project. Among 16 submitted projects, their concept took first place. The award, worth €3,000, was presented at the German Mechanical Engineering Summit 2025 in Berlin.
Analyzing consumption and potential
To identify viable options for on site power generation, the team first analyzed the training center’s electricity consumption and evaluated various technical solutions for on-site energy supply. Liebherr’s construction department in Biberach supported the project by assessing the roof structure. The findings showed that a conventional rooftop photovoltaic system was not feasible due to structural constraints.
Developing innovative solutions as a team
The project team then developed an alternative approach tailored to the conditions: a wall mounted photovoltaic system designed specifically for the training center. “What was particularly exciting was working together as a team across different training years and disciplines. Everyone was able to contribute their individual strengths,” explains Tobias Reisle, a dual-study student in electrical engineering. The apprentices submitted their ideas as both a written concept and a three minute project video.
The jury was particularly impressed by the project’s practical approach and the team’s initiative. “This project demonstrates what is possible when young people take responsibility and contribute their own innovative ideas to the challenges of tomorrow,” says Matthias Fendt, head of training.
