EU Projects
Our research group holds significant experience in the participation in, as well as coordination of, European Research projects under the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe research programs. Below you may find further details on the projects.
European research project
Our research team participates in, and coordinates, European research projects funded under the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs of the European Commission as well as by the European Research Council (ERC).
To this research efforts we contribute our excellent and extensive research facilities and scientific expertise towards the development of functional nanomaterials, particularly catalysts, and selective chemical conversion concepts for the production of renewable energy carriers (biofuels, electrical fuels) as well as commodity chemicals from renewable carbon resources.
Our lab-scale developments are further upscaled and demonstrated in cooperation with project partners active in areas which span from carbon capture, to electrolysis, fuel technology, process and power train engineering, and larger scale fuels and chemicals production.
Renewable e-fuels, tandem catalysis, process integration
Carbon neutral, high-energy density electrical fuels (e-fuels) are crucial to de-fossilize long-haul transport. Mildly oxygenated compounds such as C5+ (higher) alcohols and their ether derivatives hold the promise to overcome limitations of known e-fuels, such as non oxygenated Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbons or heavily oxygenated methanol and DME, but no process exists for their effective production. The project aims to develop a disruptive route wherein CO2, water and renewable power are converted to higher oxygenate e-fuels in a once-through hybrid process integrating three major catalysis branches: electrocatalysis, thermocatalysis and chemocatalysis. The project will demonstrate the new e-fuel production process at bench-scale, and assess its capacity to cope with fluctuating energy inputs. Moreover, e-fuel formulation and life-cycle aspects are covered to fully realize the potential of the higher oxygenate e-fuel to distinctively unite excellent combustion properties (high cetane), exceptional reduction of tailpipe soot emissions, advantageous logistics as liquid at ambient conditions and compatibility with current-fleet fuel infrastructure and engine technologies, with emphasis on applications as diesel replacement in heavy-duty marine transport.
Our group coordinates the research consortium. In addition, we are responsible for the development of novel catalysts and multifunctional tandem processes for the direct conversion of renewable e-syngas to higher oxygenates in a single conversion step.
For more information on the project, check its dedicated website at: https://e-tandem.eu
Renewable e-fuels, tandem catalysis, process integration
Carbon neutral, high-energy density electrical fuels (e-fuels) are crucial to de-fossilize long-haul transport. Mildly oxygenated compounds such as C5+ alcohols and their ether derivatives hold the promise to overcome limitations of known e-fuels, such as non-oxygenated Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbons or heavily oxygenated methanol and DME, but no process exists for their effective production. The project aims to develop a disruptive route wherein CO2, water, and renewable power are converted to higher oxygenate e-fuels in a once-through hybrid process integrating three major catalysis branches: electrocatalysis, thermocatalysis, and chemocatalysis. The project will demonstrate the new e-fuel production process at bench-scale and assess its capacity to cope with fluctuating energy inputs. Moreover, e-fuel formulation and life-cycle aspects are covered to fully realize the potential of the higher oxygenate e-fuel to distinctively unite excellent combustion properties (high cetane), exceptional reduction of tailpipe soot emissions, advantageous logistics as liquid at ambient conditions, and compatibility with current-fleet fuel infrastructure and engine technologies, with emphasis on applications as diesel replacement in heavy-duty marine transport.
Our group coordinates the research consortium. In addition, we are responsible for the development of novel catalysts and multifunctional tandem processes for the direct conversion of renewable e-syngas to higher oxygenates in a single conversion step
For more information on the project, check its dedicated website at: https://e-tandem.eu
Catalytic processes, Sustainability, Hydrogen as alternative energy vector, Biomethane valorization
Methane decomposition catalysts and processes for cost-effective production of carbon oxides-free hydrogen with concomitant carbon capture. A socially acceptable, sustainable, and easy-to-implement technology is needed to rapidly decarbonise the energy sector. With this in mind, the 112CO2 project proposes a new chemical reactor capable of using methane, e.g. from biogas, for the production of high-purity hydrogen in a cost-effective way. The project develops a very active low-temperature methane decomposition (MD) catalyst, incorporating a cyclic regeneration step involving the selective hydrogenation of the carbon-attaching interface with the catalyst. A membrane reactor will be designed to run at about 600 °C with an energy density comparable to proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. If biomethane is used, the MD can remove CO2 from the atmosphere at competitive costs. The project’s MD reactor will be suitable for mobile and stationary applications.
Our team is responsible for the development of optimized solid catalysts capable of delivering exceedingly high hydrogen production rates while displaying hydrogenative regenerability, with minimal hydrogen consumption, which is key to attaining long-term, quasi-continuous operations at mild temperatures targeted in the project.
For more information on the project, check its dedicated website at: https://112co2.eu/
Catalytic processes, Sustainability, Advanced marine biofuels, Lignin
Reducing emissions of maritime transport. Lignocellulosic biomass is mainly composed of three polymers: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The latter can be used as a source for maritime fuel. The IDEALFUEL project will study the sustainable use of lignin as a source for renewable fuels for marine transportation. This is a transport sector for which electrification is not a viable solution due to energy density considerations, while known alternative fuels (methanol, DME, ammonia) are not directly applicable in the existing vessel engines, which delays their market penetration and thus their contribution to mitigate CO2 emissions. The project develops an efficient and low-cost chemical pathway to convert lignocellulosic biomass into a bio heavy fuel oil (bio-HFO) with ultra-low sulfur levels that can be used as a drop-in fuel in the existing maritime engine fleet. The project aims to develop new technologies, solutions, and processes, and to demonstrate the performance and compatibility of the bio-HFO in maritime fuel systems and marine engines.
Our group is responsible for the development of new catalysts and catalytic processes for the depolymerization and hydrodeoxygenation of lignin oligomers, leading to hydrotreated oils compatible with legislation for marine heavy fuel oils.
For more information on the project, check its dedicated website at: https://idealfuel.eu/
Catalytic processes, Sustainability, Advanced biofuels.
Low-cost biofuels could replace fossil fuel use in long-haul road transport. Drop-in liquid fuels are renewable and compatible with existing fuel distribution and usage infrastructures. REDIFUEL develops and demonstrates, at pilot level, a process for the production of 100% drop-in and biogenic diesel-like fuels from a wide variety of biomass feedstocks. The new biofuel will be enriched in high-cetane oxygenate compounds. This composition is expected to enable a significant reduction in soot and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions for heavy-duty, long-haul road transportation.
Our research group is responsible for developing new solid catalysts which enable the direct, single-pass conversion of biosyngas (a mixture of H2 and CO) into synthetic, high-cetane hydrocarbons. This product distribution is key to enabling further oxo-functionalization into high-cetane oxygenates, which contribute to its emissions reduction.
For more information on
the project, check its dedicated website at: https://redifuel.eu/