Project description
Engineering microbes to store renewable energy as methane
Solar and wind power are intermittent, requiring efficient energy storage solutions, which poses a challenge to Europe's transition to renewable energy. One promising approach converts surplus renewable electricity into hydrogen, which can then be biologically converted into methane by microorganisms called methanogens. Scaling this process to industrial levels remains difficult due to fluctuating hydrogen availability and reactor heterogeneity. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the METH-SCALE project aims to investigate how methanogens respond and adapt to these challenging conditions. Using bioreactors, multi-omics analysis, and computational modelling, researchers will uncover stress-response mechanisms. The generated insight will help improve bacterial strains and optimise the process, offering an alternative large-scale energy storage solution.
Objective
Europe has pledged to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. However, the intermittency of renewable energy sources presents a major challenge, requiring energy storage solutions. The power-to-gas (PtG) platform addresses this by converting surplus renewable electricity into hydrogen (H2) via water electrolysis. While H2 is a promising carbon-free fuel, its limited compatibility with existing natural gas infrastructure restricts its direct use. An alternative is biomethanation, where H2 and carbon dioxide are biologically converted into methane by methanogens, enabling integration into established gas grids. Electrochaea GmbH is commercializing PtG-biomethanation using Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. Despite successful pilot deployments, scaling biomethanation to industrial levels remains challenging due to bioreactor heterogeneities and fluctuating H2 availability.
METH-SCALE aims to improve biomethanation by studying the methanogenic cellular response of heterogeneous bioreactors and intermittent substrate availability. METH-SCALE will 1) develop a lab-scale platform that mimics industrial biomethanation conditions, 2) evolve M. thermautotrophicus ΔH under intermittent H2 supply, and 3) characterize and model the adaptations to generate predictive insights and scalable solutions for industrial-scale biomethanation. METH-SCALE will use computational fluid dynamics, bioreactors, multi-omics, and kinetic modelling to uncover stress-response mechanisms, energy and redox balancing, memory effects, and potential genomic changes. These insights will inform strategies for strain improvement and bioprocess optimization, enhancing biomethanation efficiency and stability. The industry-engaged supervisory team will ensure translational relevance and support contributions toward meeting the European Climate Law’s 2050 climate neutrality target.
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.
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.
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology bioremediation bioreactors
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aliphatic compounds
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
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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)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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.
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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70174 Stuttgart
Germany
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