Safeguarding drinking water resources in coastal regions is one of today’s most pressing global challenges. Rising water demand, sea-level rise, and the effects of climate change are placing enormous pressure on coastal groundwater systems. One of the greatest threats is saltwater intrusion, which salinizes freshwater aquifers and endangers drinking water supplies.
With the IEG-GCW®-SW technology, IEG offers a globally unique innovation for controlling and preventing saltwater intrusion. Based on groundwater circulation wells (GCWs), the system creates controllable hydraulic barriers that effectively prevent the advance of saltwater and efficiently displace already intruded saline water. This ensures the sustainable use of coastal groundwater and protects valuable freshwater resources.
The Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of Baden-Württemberg has awarded the Environmental Technology Prize every two years since 2009 to companies whose innovative products, technologies, or processes make a significant contribution to environmental protection or the conservation of natural resources. The total prize money of €122,000 is distributed across four categories and an additional Special Jury Prize. Awards are given in the categories Energy Efficiency, Material Efficiency and Resource Conservation, Circular Economy and Pollution Prevention, and Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence, Measurement, Control and Automation Technology. Eligible are products or processes that significantly improve resource efficiency and environmental protection and are either close to market launch or have been available on the market for no more than two years. Participation is open to companies headquartered or operating in Baden-Württemberg.
During the award ceremony on 11 November 2025 at the Schwabenlandhalle in Fellbach, State Secretary for the Environment Dr. André Baumann honored this year’s winners and nominees. He stated:
“IEG’s technology impressively demonstrates how scientifically grounded innovation can contribute to safeguarding vital resources. The protection of freshwater in coastal regions is a global challenge – and IEG delivers a forward-looking solution.”
“This recognition is a special acknowledgment of our work and our commitment. It motivates us to continue developing products that are not only innovative, but also contribute to environmental protection, resource conservation, and climate resilience,” said Dr. Eduard Alesi, CEO of IEG Technologie GmbH.
Dr. André Baumann served as a member of the jury. The technical chair was held by Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth (Vice President for Transfer and International Affairs at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT). Further jury members included Dr.-Ing. Hannes Spieth (Managing Director, Umwelttechnik BW GmbH – State Agency for Environmental Technology and Resource Efficiency Baden-Württemberg), Dr.-Ing. Ursula Schließmann (Deputy Director, Fraunhofer IGB, and Coordinator of the Environmental and Climate Protection Business Unit), Dr. Christian Kühne (Managing Director, THINKTANK Industrial Resource Strategies at KIT), Dr. Alina Lara Amann (Head of Innovation, MVV Energie AG), Prof. Dr. Claus Lang-Koetz (Deputy Head, Institute for Industrial Ecology at Pforzheim University), and Dr. Michael Weiß (Chief Technology Officer, J. M. Voith SE & Co. KG).
Picture Copyright: bmf Armin Burkhardt
