The winning project of the I Edition of the Naturgy-CSIC Foundation Award for research and technological innovation in the energy field is the result of two years of research to transform CO2 into high-value added products.
“CO₂UP: climbing of the CO₂ hydrothermal reduction process using biomass as a reducer”, led by the principal researcher Ángel Martín, has successfully tried, a project that uses biomass residues to convert CO2 into high -value added chemicals, such as organic acids and alcohols, thus promoting its elimination and valorization, using plant biomass residues.
According to its authors, the results achieved in CO₂UP represent a significant advance towards the development of sustainable co₂ capture and valorization technologies, with a high potential of scalability and industrial application, thus contributing to the reduction of emissions and compliance with the decarbonization objectives, to the consolidation of a more efficient circular economy and sustainable development.
The CO₂UP project has made substantial advances in the design, construction and validation of a pilot plant, which has allowed demonstrating the viability of the process and generating key information for optimization. The studies have allowed to identify and quantify the main energy indicators of the system.
The scientific-technical impact of the results achieved is revealed in the publications made in specialized reference magazines and in reputed national and international congresses. From the economic and industrial perspective, a larger scale of the process with a treatment capacity of 25,000 kg of CO₂/year is raised, which would allow its integration into facilities with relevant emissions, such as the biomass boiler of the University of Valladolid.
Energy Innovation Award
Both the president of the Naturgy Rafael Villaseca Foundation and the president of the CSIC, Eloísa del Pino, have highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in the development of research and technological innovation in the field of energy, with the aim of favoring actions aimed at accelerating the energy transition in Spain. ”
Naturgy Foundation launched, together with the CSIC, the first edition of the Technological Research and Innovation Award in the energy field in 2023, with the aim of recognizing, promoting and promoting projects, within the framework of the energy transition, which contribute to the fulfillment of the decarbonization objectives in our country.