Carbon capture from syngas to Single Cell Protein (SCP) and use as fish feed ingredient

Project Information

SynoProtein

Grant agreement ID: 101112345

DOI

10.3030/101112345

EC signature date 22 May 2023

Start date 1 September 2023

End date 29 February 2028

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 6 117 404,25

EU contribution

€ 4 995 504,75

Coordinated by

WAI ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS AS
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SynoProtein (Carbon capture from syngas to Single Cell Protein (SCP) and use as fish feed ingredient)

Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2025-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Today, the aquafeed industry faces a huge protein supply gap. The European aquafeed industry, in particular, imports over half of the protein used in their products. Therefore, novel and low-footprint alternative protein sources are urgently needed.
The SynoProtein project aims to develop, mature, and demonstrate a novel carbon-negative process that converts forest residues into Single-Cell Proteins (SCP) for fish feed, along with the production of biochar for animal feed. By transforming low-value by-products into high-value bio-products, SynoProtein will provide a sustainable protein alternative to soybean and wild fish protein, to meet future demands. By leveraging carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies, the project aligns with the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and climate neutrality goals.
This project joins together a balanced consortium of 11 partners, covering the whole SynoProtein value chain, from industry, academia, and research institutes, which spread to 4 different European countries (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany), but with worldwide operation with their sister companies.

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

During the first 18 months, the project achieved significant achievements:
• Developed and optimized the alternative protein processes in lab scales, achieving close to targeted performance.
• Pre-engineering designs and techno-economic models for full-scale plant were completed, providing scale up potential and guidance for the project.
• Investigated the preliminary suitability of the single-cell proteins and biochar for aquaculture and agriculture feed
• Preliminary LCA were completed, providing guidance for environmental hotspots and process improvements.

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)

SynoProtein is poised to deliver:
• Environmental: Reduction in GHG emissions by replacing carbon-intensive protein sources.
• Economic: Cost-competitive SCP production, with potential savings from optimized processes.
• Social: Enhanced food security and rural employment through localized biomass valorization.
The project’s innovations—validated at pilot scale by 2025—will pave the way for commercial adoption, supporting the EU’s bioeconomy and Green Deal objectives.

SynoProtein vs the State of the Art