The research project "VertiKKA2" is the implementation and continuation phase of the 3-year research project "VertiKKA", in which the concept and the prototype of the VertiKKA, a vertical green water treatment system, were developed. The VertiKKA is a multifunctional facade greening module that is irrigated with gray water. It also generates electricity through translucent PV modules mounted in front of the vegetation, thus protecting the planted greenery from storms, hail, and extreme temperatures if necessary. VertiKKA represents a measure for climate protection as well as climate adaptation in urban areas. The combination of vertical greening with graywater utilization and photovoltaics increases the resource efficiency in urban neighborhoods even further as it saves drinking water through graywater utilization with simultaneous purification of the graywater and renewable energy production. The effects of greening in cities have been widely named and documented. The integration of greening on facades offers these benefits without competing with other infrastructure measures in terms of land use. Nevertheless, widespread implementation of facade greening in cities has so far failed to materialize. This is because of the vulnerability of previous greening systems to weather-related extremes which results in high maintenance costs. An attractive cost-benefit calculation is thus often difficult to present.

The main objectives of the research project VertiKKA2 are:

• The scientific, technical, and impact-related further development of the VertiKKA system to demonstrate its economic viability via its multifunctionality.
• Test the functionality of the VertiKKA system in a real laboratory as well as two further test buildings.
• The confirmation of the research results achieved in the first project phase (water purification performance, electricity generation from the PV modules, protection of the building envelope against the weather, and fire protection).
• Mapping the effects of VertiKKA in the decision support software in order to better integrate VertiKKA into the overall building concepts and neighborhood solutions.

Funded by:
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Project duration:
07/2022 - 06/2024

Contact partner:
Dr.-Ing. Hayder Alsaad
Tel. +49 (0) 3643 584744

Maria Hartmann M.Sc.
Tel. +49 (0) 3643 58 4849

Research partner:
Björnsen Beratende Ingenieure GmbH (BCE) (Project coordination)
IZES gGmbH (Institute for Future Energy and Material Flow Systems)
ifak - Institute for Automation and Communication e.V.
PI Photovoltaic Institute Berlin AG (PI Berlin)
Bauhaus-Institute for Infrastructure Solutions (b.is)
St. Hippolyt Mühle Ebert GmbH (Associated Partner)
Neues Heim - Die Baugenossenschaft eG (Associated Partner)
Baugenossenschaft Zuffenhausen eG (Associated Partner)
Municipality of Dielheim (Associate Partner)

Website:
vertikka.de/en/