UNICO2RN
Flexible and Efficient Capture and Bioconversion of CO2 to Materials and Ingredients
Project details
- Type of project
- Innovation Action - Demonstration
- Project focus
- Bio-based chemicals
- Feedstock origin
- Agri-food wasteBiogenic gaseous carbon
- Feedstock type
- Crop residuesFood industry sidestreamsIndustrial waste streams
- Project period
- 1 June 2025 - 31 May 2029
- Status
- Upcoming
- CBE JU Contribution
- € 7 499 958,00
- Call identifier
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024
Summary
The EU aims for climate neutrality by 2050, with a target of a 55% emission reduction by 2030. While the energy sector can transition to renewables, chemicals and materials still depend on carbon. Their production is a major source of global emissions, making sustainable alternatives essential to meeting EU climate goals. CO2, as a renewable resource, offers a viable solution for replacing fossil-based feedstocks in industry.
UNICO2RN aims to show how biogenic CO2 can be converted into microbial proteins, biodegradable polyesters (PHAs), and amino acids using CO2 capture technology and fermentation. This process will improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption by up to 80%, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75% when fossil fuels are substituted in these processes.
UNICO2RN will help advance the EU's sustainability goals by providing scalable, bio-based alternatives to fossil-derived materials, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
- Demonstrate cost-efficient capture and conversion of CO2 from two types of biogenic CO2 sources through the use of MOF-based CO2 capture and aerobic gas fermentation technologies.
- Create a flexible, industrial-scale system for producing microbial proteins, PHAs, and amino acids from biogenic CO2, spanning the process from raw CO2 to final products.
- Boost productivity for targeted microbial products.
- Showcase the flexibility and replicability of the proposed solutions for various types of biogenic CO2 emissions.
- Conduct product performance testing across four value chains
- Demonstrate the sustainability of processes and products through an integrated sustainability assessment, ensuring the products are Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design.
- Promote the EU's transition to sustainable materials by advancing bio-based alternatives to fossil-based plastic and composites.
- Develop market uptake strategies and communicate results to stakeholders to encourage industry adoption of sustainable CO2-based products.
- Increase the conversion of biogenic CO2 into sustainable bio-based solutions for feed, food, and bioplastic.
- Implement aerobic gas fermentation as a novel production technology across Europe.
- Reduce energy consumption for CO2 capture using MOF-based technology.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the production of feed, food proteins, and PHA bioplastic.
- Produce 100% biodegradable PHA plastic, avoiding microplastic.
- Support EU sustainability goals by reducing the environmental impact in food production and plastic.
- Raise awareness and acceptance of CO2 capture and utilisation (CCU) solutions among consumers and society at large
Consortium map
Project coordination
- VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V. Mol, Belgium
Consortium
- NIZO FOOD RESEARCH BV Ede Gld, Netherlands
- CO2BIOCLEAN GMBH ESCHBORN, Germany
- VEOLIA NV-SA SAINT-GILLES, Belgium
- LESAFFRE INTERNATIONAL MARCQ EN BAROEUL, France
- SABIO SRL Lugo, Italy
- NOVA-INSTITUT FUR POLITISCHE UND OKOLOGISCHE INNOVATION GMBH Hurth, Germany
- IDENER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AGRUPACION DE INTERES ECONOMICO LA RINCONADA SEVILLA, Spain
- MOF TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED Belfast, United Kingdom
- AERBIO A/S Glostrup, Denmark
- AERBIO BV GELEEN, Netherlands
