Project description
CO2-free production for critical raw materials
Carbothermic reduction produces materials using fossil carbon, which generates CO2. Hydrogen can help decarbonise industries, particularly in the EU's metallurgical sector, by 2050. However, it cannot directly produce essential metals like silicon (Si) and manganese (Mn). Both are crucial for clean technology and are classified as Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) and Strategic Raw Materials (SRMs). The EU-funded MECALO project aims to create a CO2-free production concept for CRMs by using renewable hydrogen to reduce reliance on fossil carbon. The project targets a 95 % reduction in CO2 emissions from Si and Mn production by 2050, replacing 9 million tonnes of coal imports with 15 billion Nm³ of hydrogen and saving 33 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
Objective
Several materials are produced by carbothermic reduction, using fossil carbon as a raw material and with CO2 as an unavoidable by-product. Since the use of hydrogen does not generate CO2 emissions, hydrogen can be a solution for decarbonising these otherwise hard-to-abate industries. In-fact, hydrogen from renewable energy sources is expected to contribute to decarbonise a large part of the EU's metallurgical industry by 2050. However, since it is not as strong a reducing agent as carbon, there are several metals that cannot be produced directly with hydrogen. Some of these, such as silicon (Si) and manganese (Mn), are crucial for successfully building Europe’s clean technology value chains and meeting the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal. In fact, Si and Mn are both defined as Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) and Strategic Raw Materials (SRMs). The European Commission has proposed a regulation on that aims to strengthen the EU’s capacities and resilience along the CRM and SRM value chains. This cannot be done in a sustainable way unless production of CRMs and SRMs can be performed without CO2 emissions.
The overall ambition of MECALO is to develop an innovative CO2-free production concept for CRMS where renewable hydrogen is used to eliminate the need for fossil carbon . Our goals are:
- To target 95% reduction of CO2-emissions from Si and Mn production
- To replace 9 million tonnes of annual coal imports by 15 billion Nm3 of H2 in 2050
- To save 33 million tonnes of annual CO2 emissions in 2050
Our concept will be applicable to all carbon reduction processes without any need for completely new, low TRL production technology. Therefore, MECALO will strengthen the EU’s capacities and resilience for a secured and sustainable supply of these CRMs.
MECALO is gathering EU leading RTO and industries along the CRM value chain, including two major players in the field of Si and Mn production.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- engineering and technology environmental engineering mining and mineral processing
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- engineering and technology materials engineering metallurgy
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.9 - Low-Carbon and Clean Industries
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2024-TWIN-TRANSITION-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7034 Trondheim
Norway
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.