Project description
Innovative reactor technology to produce green fuels and chemicals
The devastating consequences of climate change underscore the imperative for greener fuels and energy sources to facilitate an efficient and viable transition towards environmental sustainability. Despite ongoing efforts in developing and testing technologies and solutions, many remain in their early stages. The EU-funded HiCon project looks to address this challenge by pioneering a revolutionary and highly efficient reactor technology. This technology aims to cost-effectively produce carbon-neutral fuels using renewable energy, along with carbon dioxide and water. Notably, the adaptable and scalable nature of this technology will enable seamless integration into diverse value chains and energy-intensive industries. The HiCon project thus contributes to a more accessible and secure transition for workers and industries towards achieving decarbonisation goals.
Objective
A novel, highly efficient technology, to enable the synthesis of Carbon Neutral Fuels and Chemicals from CO2 and H2O employing renewable energy is proposed. The approach is based on an innovative reactor technology that produces cost-effectively green precursors for Carbon Neutral Fuels and Chemicals. The technology enables operation at non-demanding, low temperatures with unprecedented efficiency that overcomes many of the key challenges of existing technologies, exploiting radical innovations in materials and reactor engineering. The modular, easily scalable, reactor design can be integrated in/ coupled to a number of technological values chains, processes and industrial sectors, providing a sustainable pathway to net zero and achieving the European decarbonization goals. This is a cross-cutting, transformative technology for energy intensive industries, while maintaining the value of past investments in existing infrastructures (e.g. in downstream hydrocarbon processing, power generation technology, automotive industry). As such it consists of a real “just transition”, one that “leaves no one behind” as it does not disrupt the fabric of the society by marginalizing the specialized and capable European workforce in these sectors. The consortium consists of seven partners from five countries and includes a well-known university, an internationally leading energy company, a specialized materials and chemicals company, a multi-technology renewable energy developer and 3 innovative SMEs in clean energy & mobility and advanced electronics.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryhydrocarbons
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringautomotive engineering
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemployment
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC GrantsCoordinator
555 35 THESSALONIKI
Greece
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.