Direct Co-Processing of CO2 and Water to Sustainable Multicarbon Energy Products in Novel Photocatalytic Reactor
Duration: 01/11/2022 – 31/10/2026
Total Funding: € 3,058,753
Overview
Fossil-carbon sources like coal, oil, and gas meet over 80% of global energy demand but contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and are unsustainable. With rising energy needs and the Paris Agreement’s climate targets, alternatives are crucial. Biomass fuels help reduce emissions but have limited impact. Fossil-carbon-free fuels, such as E-fuels from photovoltaic hydrogen and solar fuels from sunlight, CO₂, and water, offer a sustainable, circular alternative, reducing emissions and enhancing energy security. These solar-based technologies also support global economic development, especially in fossil-poor regions. However, despite their promise, ‘clean fuels from sunlight’ remain in early technological stages.
DESIRED is a high-risk, high-return project, aiming to establish the technological feasibility and sustainability of an innovative solar-based system for producing multi-carbon (C2+), energy-rich fuels through directly coprocessing CO2 and water. Using an innovative photoreactor that combines optimised rheology with direct light irradiation, it will target fuel production for hard-to-decarbonise sectors like aviation, with expected deployment by 2050. To this end, the project will assess the economic viability, environmental impact, and social acceptance of this approach. Finally, DESIRED will foster an interdisciplinary approach to research and innovation, led by a consortium of seven European partners and supported by cross-cutting activities.
Objectives
Design, develop and optimise novel hybrid photocatalysts and their innovative bio-sourced porous support – frustules – for CO2 conversion into energy-rich C2+ species.
Design and build a novel photocatalytic reactor and develop and integrate selective and stable photocathodes for multielectron CO2 reduction in Photoelectrochemical Cells experiments.
Engineer the DESIRED fuel production system, validate solar fuel production at a laboratory (TRL 4) under simulated and real sunlight conditions, characterise and evaluate the solar fuels, and conduct technology transferability studies.
Assess the environmental, social, and economic implications of the technologies developed in DESIRED through integrated life cycle sustainability assessment.
Maximise the impact of the project through wide dissemination, communication, exploitation, and standardisation actions.
eBOS Role in the Project
In DESIRED, eBOS will design and develop a web-based, interactive data visualisation dashboard adaptable to the needs of the target audiences. This dashboard will visually represent the environmental, economic, and social outcomes of the project, facilitating their wide dissemination.
Moreover, eBOS will manage the risk library, processes and procedures of the project, covering both operational risks and the framework-level barriers/risks. It will ensure that proactive measures are taken to mitigate risks. eBOS will also establish and implement Quality Assurance procedures, focusing on monitoring review activities built into the WPs and submitting quality reports annually.
Finally, eBOS as the Dissemination and Communication (D&C) task leader, in close collaboration with Charles University, will work across the scientific WPs to identify, develop, and publish agreed D&C materials to the identified target audiences in a timely manner. eBOS will also develop, implement, monitor, and update the Plan for Exploitation and Dissemination of Results.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency. Neither the European Union the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
