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SOlar Energy to power CO2 REduction towards C2 chemicals for energy storage

Objective

SOREC2 aims at developing a breakthrough technology for a direct transformation of sunlight and CO2 into chemicals, such as ethanol or ethylene, for a safe energy storage. SOREC2 brings expertise in photonic structure design (for optimal sunlight harvesting) together with expertise in catalysis (to reduce CO2 into products that can store chemical energy or with a high economical interest). On the light harvesting side, ICFO will develop a system composed of three complementary light-absorbing elements in order to obtain the largest possible broadband sunlight harvesting. This system will rely on newly developed light trapping nano-configurations and will enable fine tuning of the potential energy needed for the reduction reactions via an innovative arrangement of the low, middle and high bandgap materials. CALTECH will develop a hybrid catalyst system, exploiting a novel combination of CO2 reduction catalysts with a redox/proton mediator to lower overpotentials and enhance selectivity towards C2 products such as ethanol or ethylene. For the photoanode, where the chemistry and the optics in a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) are interwoven, UAB and ICFO will design a multilayer configuration to achieve an optimal electro-chemistry, while not undermining the optical performance of such PEC. To ensure a transformation of the scientific research into a technology breakthrough with substantial economical and societal impacts, SOREC2 incorporates UNIFE to define the PEC upscaling roadmap and the companies GEM, SAULE, and VITSOLC for the creation of new markets. Finally, to identify non-technical barriers (such as political, economic, and societal) that SOREC2 may encounter, and to engage relevant stakeholders and citizens on the route towards market uptake, SOREC2 incorporates DBT, a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that technology development is shaped and informed by cooperation between citizens, experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers.

Coordinator

FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES
Net EU contribution
€ 817 353,75
Address
Avinguda Carl Friedrich Gauss 3
08860 Castelldefels
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (6)

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FERRARA
Italy
Net EU contribution
€ 427 206,00
Address
Via Ariosto 35
44121 Ferrara

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Region
Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Ferrara
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,25
UNIVERSITAT AUTONOMA DE BARCELONA
Spain
Net EU contribution
€ 467 002,50
Address
Edif A Campus De La Uab Bellaterra Cerdanyola V
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
SAULE SPOLKA AKCYJNA
Poland
Net EU contribution
€ 428 125,00
Address
Ulica Postepu 14 B
02-676 Warsaw

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Makroregion województwo mazowieckie Warszawski stołeczny Miasto Warszawa
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
VITSOLC TECHNOLOGIES SL
Spain
Net EU contribution
€ 232 500,00
Address
Calle Industria 45
08202 Sabadell

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
GEMMATE TECHNOLOGIES SRL
Italy
Net EU contribution
€ 340 125,00
Address
Via Reano 31
10090 Buttigliera Alta

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Nord-Ovest Piemonte Torino
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
FONDEN TEKNOLOGIRADET
Denmark
Net EU contribution
€ 371 953,75
Address
Arnold Nielsens Boulevard 68 E
2650 Hvidovre

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00

Partners (1)

CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYCORP
United States
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
East California Boulevard 1200
91125 Pasadena

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
No data