Project description
Converting potato juice into high-value medium-chain fatty acids
The EU-funded PACE project is demonstrating Europe’s first full-scale retrofitted biorefinery that converts potato juice, a low-value side-stream from potato processing, into high-value bio-based medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). By upgrading an existing industrial facility rather than building a new one, PACE reduces capital expenditure (CAPEX) and feedstock transport costs, while making circular chemistry commercially viable. The project will demonstrate the production of 20 kilotons of purified MCFAs annually from 300 kilotons of potato juice, providing sustainable alternatives to fossil- and palm-based chemicals with up to 86 % lower CO2 emissions. The scalable technology will support applications in flavours, detergents and supplements while using by-products as fertilisers, contributing to the transition towards a circular bio-based economy.
Objective
PACE aims to demonstrate a full-scale first-of-its-kind retrofitted biorefinery for the valorisation of a second generation organic sidestream feedstock into high-value bio-based chemicals, namely medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) with chain lengths from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. The project will upgrade and expand the production capacity of an existing potato processing biorefinery by utilizing its sidestream (potato juice) which is currently processed into low-value fertilizer and animal feed. PACE will use potato juice as feedstock for the production of purified MCFAs that serve as key platform chemicals or drop-in ingredients in the chemical industry, effectively replacing the currently available petro- or oleo-based MCFAs with sustainable, local, bio-based alternatives that have a CO2-emission reduction potential up to 86%.
PACE will reach TRL8 by project end, demonstrating the production of 20 kt/y of purified MCFAs from 300 kt/y of potato juice. Retrofitting the existing biorefinery and leveraging its infrastructure and equipment will save 15% CAPEX compared to greenfield construction and reduce feedstock transport costs by a minimum of €500k/y, delivering economic and environmental benefits. The technology is highly scalable and replicable across Europe.
The application of bio-based-MCFAs will be demonstrated through the production of flavors & fragrance ingredients, novel surfactants, home care detergents, and animal health supplements, fully compliant with market requirements and reaching end-TRLs up to 8. In line with the zero-waste concept, by-products will be exploited as high-value fertilizers or biogas feedstock, and process outputs will be recycled as energy sources. PACE will create a new, regional circular bio-based value chain centered in the Netherlands, with high European impact. PACE is expected to generate >€40M turnover, approximately 63 jobs, and re-skill 67 employees of the retrofitted biorefinery through tailored training programs.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science domestic animals animal husbandry animal feed
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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.2.6 - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.6.6 - Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy
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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-JU-IA - HORIZON JU 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-JU-CBE-2025
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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.
1043 AP Amsterdam
Netherlands
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.