EPOCH proposes to develop a novel approach in linking green hydrogen production with the direct loading of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) enabling a transformative logistic of green hydrogen distribution and storage. Lignin derivatives are used to be selectively oxidized. Compared to water electrolysis, EPOCH will advance the field by (1) using the nascent hydrogen at the cathode directly to load LOHCs allowing economic H2 storage and transport, and (2) converting at the anode waste lignin and its derivatives via selective oxidation. EPOCH is beyond the state-of-the-art solutions, as it does not form molecular H2 at the cathode nor generates oxygen at the anode. By modifying both cathodic and anodic reactions, EPOCH reduces the energy intensity. EPOCH will enable better cell performance and enhanced added-value device operations by (i) improving energy efficiency, (ii) allowing cost reductions, and (iii) intensifying the process. The EPOCH device will be designed for flexible integration with biorefineries and pulp & paper industries, to valorize their lignin waste streams, thus, linking these industrial sectors and H2 economy. EPOCH will allow the production of green H2 in areas where renewable energy production (in the energy mix) is higher. Therefore, EPOCH will offer a new path to effectively decrease the carbon footprint of energy-intensive industries. Development of the novel EPOCH electrocatalytic device requires (a) advanced components (electrocatalysts, electrodes, electrolytes and ionic liquid promoters, membranes) and (b) validation of the full module cell operation at laboratory scale. Thus, our project integrates multidisciplinary top-experts in areas such as electrocatalysis, lignin chemistry, and materials synthesis, with a large engineering company and a spin-off company on energy transition and a SME world-leading the LOHC technology development and logistic.

Process electrification and use of renewable resources for the production of chemicals can have a huge impact on climate change. Biogas is a particularly attractive renewable carbon source for decentralized production of chemicals due to its huge current production capacity and opportunities for growth. In parallel, methanol is an important base chemical with a huge and growing market size, produced mainly from fossil resources today. In this context, eQATOR aims to demonstrate in an industrially relevant environment (TRL6) scalable, electrically-heated catalytic reactor technologies that will allow conversion of biogas into syngas with improved efficiency compared to the state-of-art, bridging biogas production with downstream conversion technology into higher-added value products such as methanol, fuels and hydrogen. The central innovation in eQATOR is the integrated development of catalysts and reactors, and two different, yet complementary, electric heating technologies, resistive and microwave heating, leading to disruptive electrically-heated reactor technologies for syngas production. eQATOR will help transform syngas production from large-volume reactors with fired burners to renewable heated and compact reactors (up to 90% size reduction of total reactor unit and 50-75% reduction in catalyst volume), providing significant benefits from process intensification. Implementation of eQATOR technology will decrease life-cycle CO2 emissions for syngas production by 60-80% and save from 7 Mt CO2/year in 2030, up to around 45 Mt CO2/year in 2045. The experimental development is supported by a broad integrated sustainability assessment including techno-economic feasibility, environmental footprint and impact on society and rural development. The eQATOR consortium provides complementary world class expertise along the entire value chain and strong industrial commitment to maximise wide exploitation of the results through industrial implementation.

SUNER-C CSA overarching objective is to aggregate fragmented knowledge and develop the framework conditions to overcome scientific, technological, organizational and socioeconomic challenges to accelerate innovation and enable the transition of technologies for solar fuels and chemicals from laboratory and demonstrator level to large-scale industrial and broad societal application. Through a holistic approach, SUNER-C will contribute to circular economy by replacing fossil-derived fuels and chemicals by renewables and carbon recycling as key element towards the EU net-zero emissions target by 2050. SUNER-C will build upon the work of SUNERGY, a pan-European initiative on fossil-free fuels and chemicals from renewable power and solar energy, with to date over 300 supporting organisations across and beyond Europe. SUNER-C specific outcomes during the CSA will be to: develop an inclusive pan-European innovation community and eco-system on solar fuels and chemicals with global outreach, linked to political and societal needs, gathering stakeholders from different fields, sectors and disciplines around a shared vision, and coordinating with existing initiatives to ensure complementarity; develop a roadmap and a blueprint to implement it, as main drivers to identify and tackle long-term research and innovation challenges to de-fossilize society with solar fuels and chemicals; prepare the foundations for a large-scale research and innovation initiative (LSRI), ready to be launched at the end of the CSA, through an instrument to be agreed upon with the European Commission and the Member States. The LSRI will continue developing the eco-system and supporting the implementation of the roadmap, speeding up industrial and societal uptake of technologies for solar fuels and chemicals in the EU and contributing to wider, longer-term impacts, including those on “Increased autonomy in key strategic value chains for resilient industry” outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme.