Revolutionize Carbon Capture and Its Reutilization: the Kick-off of the Horizon Europe Project “REUSE”
2024 Thessaloniki, Greece – October 31, 2024
The REUSE project, an ambitious initiative funded by the Horizon Europe research programme, officially launched on October 30-31, 2024, in Thessaloniki, Greece. This groundbreaking project aims to develop advanced technologies for carbon capture and utilization (CCU), addressing one of the most pressing challenges in the fight against climate change.
Addressing Current CCU Challenges
While carbon capture and utilization technologies have shown promise, current methods face significant limitations. Existing CCU applications primarily focus on direct use in fertilizer production and enhanced oil recovery, with only about 230Mt of CO2 utilized annually. New utilization pathways for synthetic fuels, chemicals, and building materials are emerging, but their scale remains limited.The REUSE project aims to overcome these challenges by developing more efficient and versatile CCU technologies that can significantly increase CO2 utilization across various industries.
Innovative Approach to Carbon Capture and Utilization
REUSE proposes a novel concept that combines several cutting-edge technologies:
- A Rotating Packed Bed (RPB) absorber using immobilized Carbonic Anhydrase(CA) enzyme and advanced solvents for efficient CO2 capture.
- A CO2 reduction (CO2R) cell to transform captured CO2 into valuable productssuch as carbon monoxide (CO) and formic acid (FA).
This integrated system aims to achieve higher efficiency and lower energy consumption compared to conventional CCU methods.
Key Project Objectives
- Develop and test an 80 kWth pilot-scale fluidized bed unit for co-gasification/combustion.
- Create an RPB absorber with fiber-immobilized CA for enhanced CO2 absorption.
- Design a CO2R cell with advanced catalysts for efficient CO2 conversion.
- Integrate these components into a TRL 5 pilot plant for continuous operation.
- Conduct life cycle assessments to demonstrate the project’s circular economypotential and environmental benefits.
Broader Impact and Knowledge Sharing
The REUSE project goes beyond technological development by addressing:
- Socio-economic aspects and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Potential impacts on regions transitioning from fossil fuels.
- Creation of a REUSE Observatory to discuss regulatory frameworks and policy-making strategies.
- Establishment of a REUSE Knowledge HUB for education and professional development.
Consortium and Collaboration Develop
REUSE brings together a consortium of leading research institutions and industrypartners from across Europe, including: the Centre for Research & TechnologyHellas (Greece), Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), University ofLeicester (UK), Newcastle University (UK), Universidade de Aveiro (Portugal),Novozymes (Denmark), CES Clean Energy Solutions (Austria), Y Squared(Greece), TBW Research (Austria), and ETA-Florence Renewable Energy(Italy). The project will also collaborate with other relevant initiatives through anInternational Stakeholder Forum and guidance from an External Advisory Board ofrecognized experts.