Project description
Valuable chemicals from sunlight and waste molecules
Carbon-nitrogen (C-N) chemicals, such as urea and methylamine, are essential compounds widely used in agriculture as fertilisers and in the pharmaceutical industry for drug production. However, their production involves fossil fuel use and energy-intensive processes. The EIC-funded SUN2CN project will introduce a standalone solar-to-X device that will use sunlight to convert waste molecules like nitrates (NO3-) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into these valuable chemicals. The proposed device will integrate photovoltaic and electrochemical technologies in a unique flow-cell design, eliminating the need for fossil resources. This should enable sustainable, decentralised production of C-N chemicals and wastewater treatment simultaneously. If successful, SUN2CN will help transform chemical production, reduce environmental impact, and empower communities to use renewable, local solutions.
Objective
The SUN2CN project aims to deliver a standalone Solar-to-X device for the conversion of simple, low-energy molecules found in waste streams — such as nitrates (NO3-) and carbon dioxide (CO2) — into valuable carbon-nitrogen (C-N) chemicals, using sunlight as the only energy source. C-N chemicals, such as urea and methylamine, critical for the agriculture and pharmaceutical industries, contribute significantly to human health and quality of life.
To enable the solar conversion of NO3- and CO2 into C-N chemicals, SUN2CN will develop a fully-integrated photovoltaic (PV)-electrochemical (EC) device that incorporates a porous PV membrane coated with selective electrocatalysts in an innovative flow cell design. The standalone solar-to-X device will provide a sustainable solution for the decentralized production of valuable organonitrogen (C-N) chemicals and wastewater treatment, eliminating the need for fossil resources and energy-intensive ammonia production.
SUN2CN aims to achieve a breakthrough in the chemical and energy sectors. It will contribute to the vision of decentralized prosumption of renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials using local resources and solar energy, thereby empowering communities and remote areas.
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.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis electrocatalysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry hydrocarbons
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
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.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants
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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-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-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.
4362 Esch Sur Alzette
Luxembourg
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.