SKAPA Recycling wins VERBUND-E-Novation Award 2025: innovation for a sustainable circular economy

SKAPA Recycling GmbH from Lower Austria is the winner of the VERBUND-E-Novation Award (VERENA) 2025.

Together with the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), the company developed a self-sufficient XRF sorting facility that separates aluminium waste with high precision, working at around 80% energy self-sufficiency.

The innovative facility shows how digitalisation, AI and renewable energy can be efficiently combined in industrial processes.

Innovation as the key to the future of energy

The transition to clean energy presents major challenges for business and research, from decarbonisation to the expansion of renewable energy to the digitalisation of networks.

Innovations are a key success factor here: only with new technologies and bold partnerships can energy efficiency, the security of supply and sustainability be combined in the long term.

“The story of the new energy market is currently being written with innovation at its heart. With the VERENA Award, we recognise the pioneers who are using their courage and creativity to shape our energy future. SKAPA Recycling’s project impressively demonstrates how intelligent control systems and AI-supported technologies make recycling processes more efficient and increase energy efficiency, driving forward the transition to a sustainable energy market,” said Franz Zöchbauer, Managing Director of VERBUND X.

VERBUND is involved in a wide range of initiatives with the aim of actively shaping this change, such as through research collaborations, corporate venture activities and the VERENA Award, which highlights successful partnerships between business and science.

SKAPA Recycling: precision and energy efficiency in aluminium recycling

The XRF sorting facility developed by SKAPA uses state-of-the-art X-ray fluorescence technology to separate even complex metal fractions with up to 99.8% purity.

An AI-supported energy management system controls processes, stores excess energy and enables operations to be almost entirely self-sufficient.

As a result, the company saves around 500 tons of waste annually, increases material value by up to 40% and makes an important contribution to a resource-friendly circular economy.

Other nominated projects

Alongside SKAPA Recycling, two other companies were nominated for the VERENA Award 2025:

• P&P Industries AG, Styria – “H₂ Bluetifuel Burner” project
  
  In cooperation with Joanneum Research, a 3D-printed burner technology was developed that burns hydrogen and ammonia in a stable way with low emissions – an important contribution to the decarbonisation of industrial high-temperature processes.
• Siemens Mobility Austria GmbH, Vienna – “e-Line™ pantographs for battery-powered commercial vehicles” project
  
  Together with TU Wien, the company developed a fully automated charging system for electric buses that can also be used in noise-sensitive urban areas, making public transport more sustainable.

About the VERBUND-E-Novation Award

The VERBUND-E-Novation Award (VERENA) has been awarded as a special prize of the State Prize for Innovation since 2012. Particular recognition is given to projects between companies and research institutes that have undertaken joint developments in the areas of energy efficiency and energy management, innovative energy systems and renewable energies. With this award, VERBUND promotes collaboration between industry and research and supports companies in their efforts to develop sustainable solutions for a climate-friendly future of energy.