Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of Europe’s primary challenges in combating global warming and climate change. Over the years, the European chemical industry has been committed to this goal, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. SunCoChem is a European sustainable chemistry project promoting a carbon-neutral energy and high-value chemical production for the European chemical industry through the development of an innovative photoelectrocatalytic reactor for solar-driven CO2 conversion into green chemicals.
During our final conference, project researchers presented the most representative innovative solutions, results and outcomes of SunCoChem, going beyond the state of the art and its added value for companies in the chemical sector. Additionally, partners showcased the photoelectrocatalytic reactor device developed, validated and demonstrated within the project.
The event ended with round tables with representatives of several key European companies and institutions in the chemistry industry discussing the main trends and challenges of the sector.
OCTOBER 23rd 2024
9:30 – 16:15 CEST
HYBRID EVENT
Eurecat’s facilities in Tarragona
Online streaming
Conference Materials
Opening plenary & Session 1
Agenda
9.30 - 10.30 | OPENING PLENARY: Welcome, keynote and SunCoChem overview
9.30 – Welcome and introduction to the conference
María Navarro, SunCoChem coordinator and European Program Manager, Eurecat
9.40 – SunCoChem results overview
Adrianna Nogalska, SunCoChem scientific coordinator and Head of Hydrogen Technologies, Eurecat
9.55 – Keynote Session “Artificial Photosynthesis Towards Sustainable Chemical Production”
Julio Lloret-Fillol, Group Leader, ICIQ and Researcher, ICREA
10.15 – Questions & Answers
10.30 - 11.00 | COFFEE BREAK
11.00 - 12.30 | SESSION 1: Developing SunCoChem reactor for solar-driven CO2 conversion into green chemicals
Chair: Hilmar Guzmán, Assistant Professor, Politecnico di Torino
11.00 – Selective polysulfone membrane for CO2 Capturing
Adrianna Nogalska, SunCoChem scientific coordinator and Head of Hydrogen Technologies, Eurecat
11.15 – Development and optimization of electrodes and operating conditions for the conversion of CO2 to syngas
Simelys Hernández, SunCoChem technical coordinator and Associate Professor, Politecnico di Torino
11.30 – Photo-Electrochemical device scale-up and commercialization expectatives
Freddy Liendo, R&D Manager, Hysytech
11.45 – Catalysts assessment through functional/structural investigations with operando techniques
Angelica Chiodoni, Senior Researcher, PI of Advanced characterizations and optimized functional materials for energic transition, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)
12.00 – Nanocomposite membranes for (photo)electrochemical applications
Sara Cavaliere, Professor at University of Montpellier, Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, CNRS
12.15 – CO2 capture with ionic liquids – reality or a dream?
Boyan Iliev, Head of custom synthesis, Iolitec Ionic Liquids Technologies
12.25 – Questions & Answers
12.35 - 12.45 | BREAK
12.45 - 13.30 | SESSION 2: Exploring the societal, economic and environmental impacts of SunCoChem
Chair: Boyan Iliev, Head of custom synthesis, Iolitec Ionic Liquids Technologies
12.45 – Environmental sustainability of SunCoChem processes: Life Cycle Assessment methodologies
Enrique Lacasa, Researcher at the Waste, Energy and Environmental Impact Unit, Eurecat
12.55 – CPG industry experts’ views of SunCoChem technology and European consumers’ intentions to buy CPGs containing recycled CO2
Antonia Delistavrou, Associate Professor in Marketing, International Hellenic University
13.05 – Techno-economic feasibility of SunCoChem
Freddy Liendo, R&D Manager, Hysytech
13.15 – Opportunities and challenges for the SunCoChem technologies in the chemical market
Eric Schuler, Electrochemical Process Engineer in Volta Technologies, Avantium Chemicals
13.25 – Questions & Answers
13.30 - 14.30 | NETWORKING LUNCH
14.30 - 15.00 | The potential of green hydrogen technologies
Chair: Miriam Díaz de los Bernardos, Director of the Chemical Technology Unit of Eurecat and Director of the H2CAT Network
14.30 – The role of Innovation for the Development of new Hydrogen Technologies in Catalonia
Miquel Anglada i Autet, promoter of the H2CAT, Eurecat
14.40 – Public understanding and acceptance of decarbonization technologies. Green hydrogen as a case of study
Jordi Prades-Tena, researcher at the ASTERISC Communication Research Group, Universitat Rovira i Virgili
14.50 – Questions & Answers
15.00 - 16.15 | ROUND TABLE: Green technologies and solutions for decarbonising the industry
Moderated by Miriam Díaz de los Bernardos, Eurecat
Julio Lloret-Fillol, Group Leader, ICIQ and Researcher, ICREA
Carlos Molina, Technical Secretary of SusChem Spain, FEIQUE
Simelys Hernández, SunCoChem technical coordinator and Associate Professor, Politecnico di Torino
Núria López, Group Leader, ICIQ
Enrique Pascual, Research Engineer at the Solar Energy R&D Unit, Acciona Industrial
16.15 | CLOSING CONFERENCE: Final remarks, conclusion and end of the event
María Navarro, SunCoChem coordinator and European Program Manager, Eurecat
Venue
About SunCoChem
The European SunCoChem project represents a significant leap towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future in energy and chemical production. The project has developed an innovative photoelectrocatalytic reactor for the production of valuable chemical oxo-products, utilizing CO2 captured from the chemical industry itself combined with solar energy. The reactor developed has undergone rigorous testing to develop value-added chemicals for diverse applications, including cosmetics and food.
SunCoChem’s innovation mitigates costs and CO2 emissions, reducing the European chemical industry’s dependence on carbon-based raw materials while contributing towards a solar-driven carbon-neutral industry aligned with the commitments agreed at the 2015 United National Climate Change Conference (COP21).
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