Project description
Electrifying the path to carbon-neutral chemicals
Producing essential chemicals is responsible for a significant share of global emissions. Decarbonising the chemical industry is a crucial component in the European climate plan, but it has proved to be a challenge. The EU-funded ALCHEMHY project aims to create four electrified processes, integrating green hydrogen, electrochemical conversion and catalyst engineering, for the manufacturing of the essential platform chemicals ammonia and methanol. Laboratory concepts are scaled through pilot‑level fabrication and operated under flexible conditions relevant to future integrated energy systems with renewable generation. Process modelling and techno‑economic assessment will guide design choices and quantify performance improvements. ALCHEMHY will move Europe towards the hydrogen‑based, electricity‑driven chemical manufacturing of the future, with distributed production assets, grid‑responsive operation, sector coupling and deep industrial decarbonisation pathways.
Objective
ALCHEMHY aims to develop a set of innovative electrified processes to produce platform chemicals, particularly ammonia, i.e. a Magnetic-Heated Sorption-Enhanced Reactor (MSER) and Direct ElectroSynthesis of Ammonia (DESA); and methanol, i.e. a Small-Flexible Methanol Reactor (SFMR) and a Plasma-Catalytic Hydrogenation process (PCH). To this end, processes configuration will be optimised and novel materials and catalysts comaptible with the electric input will be developed, optimising their performance, ramp-up times and enabling milder conditions. This will support the intensification and downscaling of the ammonia and methanol production, facilitating decentralised production integrated with downstream processes and renewable energy generation. This is crucial to decarbonise the production of both chemicals, as current production heavily relies on fossil natural gas for hydrogen generation. The 4 processes will be demonstrated at TRL 6 in relevant experimental facilities, while the technical and economic feasibility of the processes will be studied through a technoeconomic assessment (TEA) in two use cases: integrated ammonia and caprolactam production and refinery decarbonisation through CCU + a downstream methanol-to-olefin process. The processes upscaling, operation and TEA will be supported through dynamic modelling of the processes, generating a digital twin of the processes and a DSS to support H2 value chain design. The project consortium consists of 16 partners from 7 EU countries, with diversified expertise and knowledge in the addressed processes and access to the required lab and pilot infrastructure. The project will contribute to the development of a sustainable chemical industry, supporting the creation of green jobs and improving the competitiveness of European industries, while contributing to a more resilient and secure energy system for the EU, reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels.
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 inorganic compounds
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis electrocatalysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- engineering and technology chemical engineering chemical process engineering
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.
50018 Zaragoza
Spain
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.