Project description
A scalable approach to sustainable carbon utilisation
CO2 is often viewed as a harmful gas but holds great potential as a resource through innovative technologies. The ERC-funded RapidSyn project will lead this effort by developing a process that uses renewable electricity to power chemical reactions. Advanced redox agents will break down CO2 and convert it into formate – a versatile industrial chemical – and syngas – a gas mixture that can be tailored to produce fuels and other materials. This innovative approach reduces emissions and offers flexibility in scale and operation. To move from demonstration to validation, RapidSyn will optimise its reactor and catalyst designs and assess market potential.
Objective
RapidSyn aims to deliver a breakthrough pathway for turning CO2 into valuable syngas quickly, efficiently, and with renewable power at its core. Building on the ERC Starting Grant project DeCO-HVP, we have shown that electrolytically generated redox agents can drive a revolutionary decoupled electrocatalytic process, producing both formate and tunable syngas mixtures at remarkable rates. This unique approach integrates renewable electricity seamlessly, enabling a genuinely decarbonised route for CO2 utilisation while offering unprecedented flexibility in scale and operation.
The Proof of Concept funding will take this disruptive idea from demonstration to validation. We will rigorously probe key parameters such as mediator concentration, pressure, and temperature, to establish the performance limits and optimise reactor and catalyst design. In parallel, we will carry out a comprehensive commercial assessment, including patent landscaping and a first market analysis, to position RapidSyn as a viable, scalable technology.
By combining scientific innovation with targeted risk evaluation and market exploration, RapidSyn aims to validate CO2 conversion as a rapid, renewable, and commercially attractive process, paving the way for impactful exploitation and future deployment.
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.
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept 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) ERC-2025-POC
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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.
LA1 4YW LANCASTER
United Kingdom
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.