Proyecto Alchemhy: Grant Agreement (GA): No. 101177996

“Rutas alternativas de producción de químicos utilizando hidrógeno como feedstock.“

ALCHEMHY aims to develop a set of innovative electrified processes to produce platform chemicals, particularly ammonia, i.e. a Magnetic-Heated Sorption-Enhanced Reactor (MSER) and Direct ElectroSynthesis of Ammonia (DESA); and methanol, i.e. a Small- Flexible Methanol Reactor (SFMR) and a Plasma-Catalytic Hydrogenation process (PCH). To this end, processes configuration will be optimised and novel materials and catalysts comaptible with the electric input will be developed, optimising their performance, ramp-up times and enabling milder conditions. This will support the intensification and downscaling of the ammonia and methanol production, facilitating decentralised production integrated with downstream processes and renewable energy generation. This is crucial to decarbonise the production of both chemicals, as current production heavily relies on fossil natural gas for hydrogen generation. The 4 processes will be demonstrated at TRL 6 in relevant experimental facilities, while the technical and economic feasibility of the processes will be studied through a technoeconomic assessment (TEA) in two use cases: integrated ammonia and caprolactam production and refinery decarbonisation through CCU + a downstream methanol-to-olefin process. The processes upscaling, operation and TEA will be supported through dynamic modelling of the processes, generating a digital twin of the processes and a DSS to support H2 value chain design. The project consortium consists of 16 partners from 7 EU countries, with diversified expertise and knowledge in the addressed processes and access to the required lab and pilot infrastructure. The project will contribute to the development of a sustainable chemical industry, supporting the creation of green jobs and improving the competitiveness of European industries, while contributing to a more resilient and secure energy system for the EU, reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels.

CIIAE's role in ALCHEMHY is summarised in the following activities: 

        1. Validation of direct electrochemical synthesis of ammonia in solid oxide cells: selection, characterisation and                testing of materials and cells (5x5 cm).

        2. Selection, characterisation and testing of catalysts for methanol production.

        3. Demonstration (TRL5-TRL6) of ammonia and methanol production technologies.

        4. Flexibility and integration of processes: techno-economic analysis of ammonia uses.

Partners that make it up:

• FUNDACION CIRCE CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION DE RECURES (CIRCE) – España (coordinador)
• KEMIJSKI INSTITUT (NIC) – Eslovenia (socio)
• FUNDACION FUNDECYT - PARQUE CIENTIFICO Y TECNOLOGICO DE EXTREMADURA / Centro Ibérico de investigación en almacenamiento energético (CIIAE) – España (socio)
• UNIVERSIDADE DE AVEIRO (UA) – Portugal (socio)
• BLUENERGY REVOLUTION SCRL (BER) – Italia (socio)
• UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN (UANT) – Bélgica (socio)
• EREVNITIKO PANEPISTIMIAKO INSTITOUTO SYSTIMATON EPIKOINONION KAI YPOLOGISTON (ICCS) – Grecia (socio)
• CORE KENTRO KAINOTOMIAS AMKE (CORE) – Grecia (socio)
• FONDAZIONE BRUNO KESSLER (FBK) – Italia (socio)
• AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH (AIT) – Austria (socio)
• WHITE RESEARCH SRL (WR) – Bélgica (socio)
• RECATALYST, RAZVOJ, PROIZVODNJA IN PRODAJA KATALIZATORSKIH KOMPOZITOV, D.O.O. (RC) – Eslovenia (socio)
• HYSYTECH SRL (HST) – Italia (socio)
• CASALE SA (CAS) – Suiza (socio)
• UBE CORPORATION EUROPE SA (UBE) – España (socio)
• SONATRACH RAFFINERIA ITALIANA SRL (SRI) – Italia (socio)

Total budget and details of aid received:

• CIIAE (717.875,00 €); TOTAL (9.996.078,75 €)