EIC Portfolio “Solar-to-X” Devices
8 projects to make progress towards synthetic fuels and chemical technologies integrating all necessary conversion steps into a single device, solely and directly driven by solar energy.
Transforming bio-based chemical production
The production of bio-based chemicals has long been crucial to various sectors and industries, affecting agriculture, medicine and more. Its complexity has made manufacturing processes difficult, making sustainable production often economically unviable. The EIC-funded C5 project will transform the production of bio-based chemicals, maximising photosynthetic CO2 fixation and converting it into the versatile chemical feedstock molecule isoprene with high efficiency. The project will achieve this by developing disruptive technologies that pioneer the next generation of metabolic engineering, introducing the construction of synthetic cellular organelles in photosynthetic cyanobacteria. In combination with a novel bio-product harvesting technique that eliminates the need for costly biomass collection, the C5 consortium will drive critical innovations to make sustainable biomanufacturing of chemicals economically feasible.
Solar ammonium synthesis for greener fertiliser
While fertilisers are essential for agriculture, the production of nitrogen fertilisers has significant environmental impacts, particularly due to the release of greenhouse gases. The EIC-funded PHOTONIA project will decarbonise and decentralise nitrogen fertiliser production through local solar-driven processes, thereby reducing environmental harm and improving the accessibility of fertilisers. This approach to ammonium synthesis converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium nitrate using solar energy. The technology uses advancements in photochemistry and photocatalysis to enhance the nitrogen circular economy, establish a roadmap for decentralised fertiliser production, and maximise solar-spectrum use in agriculture. The project will focus on horticulture, where PHOTONIA panels can be installed in greenhouses to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium nitrate using sunlight.
Solar-to-X technologies for photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction
Efforts to reduce the negative impacts of fossil fuels have led to the development of solar-to-X technologies, which integrate energy and chemical conversions in one device. However, while promising for efficiency and decentralised use, they are complex to develop. The EIC-funded PREDICT project will clarify the mechanisms affecting the performance of photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO2 reduction devices using advanced computational materials science and multiscale modelling. By improving quantum chemistry methods for excited state calculations and integrating various scales, the project will create a transferable framework for simulating PEC devices, including artificial leaves. Expected outcomes include improved device architectures, optimised material properties, and a comprehensive modelling framework to drive the development of high-efficiency, integrated solar-to-X devices.
Reimagining food production for dinner in space
How can we grow food with no soil, no farms, and no pollution? The EIC-funded SOLARSPOON project is pioneering an approach using sunlight, air, and water to directly produce proteins and lipids. By integrating photosynthetic bacteria and food-producing microbes into biohybrid photoelectrochemical devices, SOLARSPOON enables solar-powered conversion of CO2 and nitrogen into edible materials. The system uses cyanobacteria and organic dyes to generate energy-rich substrates, feeding microbial cultures housed within the same device. The goal is to surpass the efficiency of traditional agriculture and reach 1 % solar-conversion efficiency. From remote communities to future space missions, SOLARSPOON’s vision of clean, decentralised food production could redefine how and where humanity feeds itself.
A solar reactor to power a cleaner future
Sunlight might soon do more than just power our homes. It could also help produce fuels and essential chemicals. The EIC-funded SOLEAS project is working on a self-contained device that uses sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen to create valuable compounds such as ethene and ammonia, which are crucial for clean energy and manufacturing. By combining advanced optical concentrators, quantum dots, and a streamlined reactor design, the system brings together several photo-reactions into one efficient setup. The aim is to build a scalable, self-sufficient solution that can operate even in remote locations, making it possible to generate renewable energy and important chemicals where they are needed. SOLEAS could reshape the future of solar power.
Valuable chemicals from sunlight and waste molecules
Carbon-nitrogen (C-N) chemicals, such as urea and methylamine, are essential compounds widely used in agriculture as fertilisers and in the pharmaceutical industry for drug production. However, their production involves fossil fuel use and energy-intensive processes. The EIC-funded SUN2CN project will introduce a standalone solar-to-X device that will use sunlight to convert waste molecules like nitrates (NO3-) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into these valuable chemicals. The proposed device will integrate photovoltaic and electrochemical technologies in a unique flow-cell design, eliminating the need for fossil resources. This should enable sustainable, decentralised production of C-N chemicals and wastewater treatment simultaneously. If successful, SUN2CN will help transform chemical production, reduce environmental impact, and empower communities to use renewable, local solutions.
Boosting solar fuel efficiency for a sustainable future
Current solar fuel technologies, essential for a sustainable energy future, face significant challenges: low efficiency, slow production, and high costs. These hurdles are particularly problematic for sectors like aviation and maritime, where electrification is difficult. The EU-funded SUN-PERFORM project seeks to overcome these barriers with a bio-hybrid approach, combining nanotechnology and synthetic biology. By developing advanced nanocrystal light-harvesting systems and engineered microalgal solar cells, SUN-PERFORM aims to quadruple current solar-to-fuel conversion efficiencies. The project will pilot these innovations in Europe and Africa, ensuring they are sustainable, economically viable, and socially acceptable. SUN-PERFORM’s success could position Europe as a global leader in solar fuel technology, benefiting diverse stakeholders worldwide.
The SUNPEROM project aims to transform renewable energy by developing a solar-driven system for direct methanol synthesis from atmospheric CO2. The primary objective is to achieve a Solar-to-Methanol efficiency exceeding 12% through the creation of an innovative, cost-effective tandem device. This device features a high-voltage perovskite-perovskite solar conversion stack and an advanced near-infrared (NIR) photocatalyst-mixed gas diffusion layer for efficient CO2 capture and conversion, utilizing the full solar spectrum.
Taking a high-risk, high-reward approach, SUNPEROM targets significant breakthroughs in solar fuel production technology, delivering green methanol at a competitive price. The technology integrates diverse renewable energy components, including high-voltage all-perovskite tandem solar cells, NIR photocatalysts, solid-state CO2 capture, and direct electroreduction of CO2, representing a comprehensive approach to solar fuel production.
The project emphasizes advancing cutting-edge technologies and contributing to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy. To elevate the Technology Readiness Level (TRL), the project includes plans for standardized validation of the SUNPEROM tandem device, with a clear focus on moving beyond the conceptual stage towards practical implementation. Environmental and social impacts are also prioritized, with a thorough Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) planned to assess sustainability.
Additionally, the proposal benchmarks SUNPEROM against current commercial technologies, aiming to surpass existing performance standards, reduce production costs, minimize land use, and achieve a low energy payback time for sustainable solar fuel production. Regulatory compliance is a key aspect, ensuring alignment with current policies for a smooth transition to commercialization.