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

Project Information

SOREC2

Grant agreement ID: 101084326

DOI

10.3030/101084326

Project closed

EC signature date 21 October 2022

Start date 1 November 2022

End date 31 October 2025

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 3 084 266,25

EU contribution

€ 3 084 266,00

Coordinated by

FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SOREC2 (SOlar Energy to power CO2 REduction towards C2 chemicals for energy storage)

Reporting period: 2022-11-01 to 2024-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

SOREC2 will develop a novel, stand-alone up-scalable photoelectrochemical (PEC) concept for the direct conversion of CO2, water and sunlight into C2-based compounds for energy storage in the form of fuels (ethanol) or added value chemicals (ethylene). This will be achieved by creating a catalyst System combining CO2 reduction catalysts.
In this way, SOREC2 offers a pathway for the next generation of renewable energy technologies, allowing to tackle two critical bottlenecks related to their widespread adoption, namely:
1. A direct solar-to-storable energy technology offering secure, long-term storage compatible with current infrastructures
2. Its utilization in energy intensive, hard to decarbonize sectors, such as fuels and commodity chemicals.

SOREC2 aims to advance the performance and techno-economic readiness of CO2R PEC technology, integrating cutting-edge advancements in photonics, material science and energy engineering into a single concept. During its development, SOREC2 has set to deliver specific breakthrough results, including:
· An effective light management for a full utilization of the solar spectrum (ICFO).
· Efficient and selective catalysts based on Earth-abundant materials (CALTECH, UAB).
· Laboratory scale prototype, operating at industrially relevant conditions and a viable roadmap for up-scaling (UNIFE, VIT, SAULE).
· Sustainable and competitive environmental and cost life-cycle performances (GEM).
· Strategies to tackle acceptance barriers by different stakeholders for a successful market uptake (DBT).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

SOREC2 has consistently advanced and delivered measurable results, including: A photoelectrode based on BiVO4 n-type semiconductor functionalized with a top catalytic layer has been tested in electrolytic solution relevant to the CO2R into C2 products providing a current density up to 0.25 mA/cm2 at E = 1.2 vs RHE and up to 1.8 mA/cm2 in the presence of a sacrificial electron acceptor at the same potential. The current cathode design doesn't rely on CPET molecular mediator as described in detail in WP3. Instead, the focus has been on the optimization of the CALTECH new technology based on copper electrode covered with an organic layer, achieving 60% selectivity towards C2 products (ethanol and ethylene). A numerical model that can be used to optimize light absorption in a tandem structure saddled by incoherent light propagation has been developed. In its implementation we incorporated dielectric multilayer structures to adequately distribute the light among the three different light absorbing elements of the PEC. An initial design of a 3-D reflective nano-structure to reduce the Voc loss in the PVK solar cell was also implemented. Fabrication of T-OPV cells using techniques that would allow for an industrial up-scaling were also initiated and we demonstrated that when using slot-die we can reach the same performance than when using spin coating.
The performances of the Cu-based cathodes for CO2 reduction are currently under optimization, with total maximum Faradaic Efficiency for C2 products (namely ethanol and ethylene) of ca. 60% so far.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Expected results have preliminarily been evaluated in terms of innovation and business potential (following the Innovation Radar methodology), obtaining a preliminary listing of Key Exploitable Results (KERs) which will be the baseline for SOREC2’s exploitation plan, including both joint (overall technology) and partner-only (individual components) exploitation pathways. These KERs are summarized as follows:
1. 3-D light scattering photonic structures, under development
2. Transparent, efficient & non-CRM photocatalysis for OER, under development
3. Hybrid Cu:DO CO2-to-C2 cathodes, under development
4. Alternative BiVO4 layer synthesis, under development
5. Visible-light transparent solar cells, developed, not yet exploited
6. Printed, low weight perovskite solar cells, developed, pre-commercial experiments.
7. PEC prototype design, under development
8. Societal acceptance & barriers on green chemicals, under development

Given the exploratory nature of the technology, IPR protection will be key to set a solid baseline for future exploitation activities, which will be largely guided by the four industrial partners of the consortium (GEM, VIT, SAULE and DBT) and will incorporate input from an external advisor (CO2 Value Europe).
Once the project ends at an expected TRL 4, there will still be a need for maturity increasing R&D in order to demonstrate the technology at relevant scale and operation conditions, requiring public (or if possible) private financing. Furthermore, while IPR protection is actively encouraged within the consortium. medium-term investment in patents (in the period before commercialisation is possible) can be complex. In this regard, IPR support in the form of post-project patent expense funding would be desirable. Likewise, support in standardisation activities, for instance through close work with fuel/chemical safety and quality entities, would also be useful to reduce risk down the road.