COSEC. Biogenic CO2 capture into Sustainable Energy Carriers: A novel photosynthetic and hydrogenotrophic CO2 fixation combined with waste nutrient upcycling for production of carbon negative energy carriers.

Developing a disruptive nature-based solution for capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from effluent gases produced by bioenergy combustion systems.

• The develop of a novel photosynthetic platform for capturing biogenic CO2 into energy rich algae biomass. Focusing on resilient strains to enhance resistance to flue gas toxicity, novel biomass pre-treatment methods for cell disruption and nitrogen removal (concurrent production of biostimulants).
• The captured CO2 is converting into two widely used renewable energy carriers; biocrude (by hydrothermal liquefaction) and biogas (anaerobic digestion). Byproducts (hydrochar and digestates), will be recycling and valorize to improve the sustainability of the process.
• The biocrude and biogas will be upgrading into biofuel and biomethane using renewable H2 for achieving carbon circularity
• The validation of the developed direct CO2 fixation methods through integration with effluent systems at a pilot scale, TRL5.

To demonstrate the viability of Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) process for algae in continuous mode (TRL 5).

• Batch mode trials will allow us to optimize the conditions for the HTL reaction and pretreatments.
• The scale-up of the HTL process will enhance the efficiency of the biocrude production process from an algae-based biomass. The objective is to produce the cleanest possible 30L batch of HTL biocrude, which will be used as a precursor for a drop-in liquid fuel using sustainable upgrading methods.
• CENER will also produce other by-products from the HTL process, including an aqueous phase, biochar and gas. These will be recycled by other partners to produce value-added products such as electrodes and biogas. Achieving a circular HTL process with zero waste.