ROBINSON, METHAREN, LICROX: innovation, research, sustainability

ROBINSON

On the 9^th and 10^th of March, the M30 meeting of the ROBINSON project (EU H2020) was held in Savona (Italy), hosted by Genoa University.

The meeting was the perfect occasion to discuss some criticalities of the project, future expectations and the replication in further locations of the energy production system developed within the project framework.

ROBINSON aims at the development of an Energy Management System (EMS) for the decarbonization of the islands (Eigeroy, Norway, as a case study; Crete and Western Isles, UK, as cases of replicability) and maximizing energy efficiency by exploiting waste from the fish industry.

HYSYTECH is finalizing the detailed engineering and will soon start the construction of the AD-BES system (Anaerobic Digestion system coupled to a Bio-Electrochemical system) to be integrated with the electrolyzer and PV panels for energy production.

METHAREN

On the 9^th and 10^th of March, the second METHAREN project meeting (EU H2020) took place, in Turin (Italy).

The project aims to produce biomethane compliant with the natural gas grid specification by using a biowaste gasification system, a solid oxide electrolyzer and a methanation system. During the meeting the partners discussed on the basic design of the system and a visit to the ACEA Pinerolese Industriale site, where the final plant will be erected, was organized.

HYSYTECH will support the design and development of the process and will execute the construction and installation of the prototype at the ACEA Pinerolese Industriale project partner site.

LICROX

On the 13^th and 14^th of March, the partners of LICROX project (EU H2020) have met at HYSYTECH's HQ in Turin to discuss the latest developments of the project.

The LICROX project aims at developing advanced materials in order to perform artificial photosynthesis to efficiently convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide (CO₂) into carbon-based molecules containing C1 or C2, capable of storing chemical energy. The project aims at CO₂ reduction to ethylene that has many different applications in the chemical industry. A complete prototype using a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) will be fabricated and tested to demonstrate and validate the technology.

HYSYTECH's role is the design, engineering, scale-up, manufacturing and validation of the LICROX TRL5 PEC prototype. A visit to HYSYTECH's facilities was organized during the meeting and the first prototype of the PEC was illustrated to the partners. In the next months the complete test bench will be manufactured, and the final testing will be carried out.