REFINE
From solar energy to fuel: A holistic artificial photosynthesis platform for the production of viable solar fuels.
Start date: 1 November, 2023
End date: 31 October, 2026
Code: EUROPE HORIZON-CL5-2022-D3-03-03.
Proyect Cordintator: UNIVERSITETET I OSLO (UiO).
Beneficiaries:
- RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN (RWTH AACHEN),
- ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS (AUTH).
- OSLO UNIVERSITETSSYKEHUS HF (OUH).
- CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENERGETICAS, MEDIOAMBIENTALES Y
TECNOLOGICAS-CIEMAT (CIEMAT-PSA). - INSTITUTT FOR ENERGITEKNIKK (IFE).
- APRIA SYSTEMS SL (APRIA SYSTEMS),
- UNIVERSIDAD DE ALMERÍA (UAL Third linked party)
UAL Contact:
- Pàtricia Plaza Bolaños (ppb515@ual.es)
Funding: HORIZON EUROPE.
Status: In progress.
ABSTRACT:
REFINE develops and demonstrates a system of artificial photosynthesis by combining both dark and light-dependent reactions for the direct production of high energy ensity and essential chemicals, such as alcohols. To achieve this, a direct hydrogen storage into hydrocarbons through C02 capture and transformation in an advanced bio-refining system is proposed. In this, hydrogen produced by water photoelectrolysis is combined with captured C02 and directly fed to biocultures that selectively produce isopropanol and butanol as high energy solar fuels, and the only energy input to drive this radical technological system is sunlight. To realise and bring to the market such a system of artificial photosynthesis it is necessary to converge the fields of materials science, biotechnology, engineering and social sciences. The project organisation is multicentred and operates at different levels; from raw materials supply considerations, societal acceptance, materials engineering and nanostructuring to device assembling and applicability. The true converging nature of REFINE provides a holistic, ground-breaking approach that addresses major challenges of our modern societies such as the extensive C02 emissions and inability for efficient and widely accepted C02 recycling. The vision in REFINE extends well beyond the 4-year activities proposed in this application. Still, REFINE is the seed for a multidimensional approach to critical scientific and societal challenges.
Website: Refine