DESIRED

Solar fuels are synthetic fuels produced from water, sunlight and CO2. Relying on the principle of the "proton-coupled electron transfer" (PCET) reaction, they avoid the production of hydrogen and offer a sustainable alternative to coal, oil and other fossil fuels. However, further improvements in the photocatalyst and reactor technology are required to make solar fuel production scalable and affordable. The EU-funded DESIRED project plans to develop a novel fuel production system powered by sunlight that will process CO2 and water in parallel to produce multi-carbon, energy-rich products. The planned system will be a novel flow reactor utilising recyclable hybrid electrocatalysts to produce CH3OH and C2+ solar fuels also usable as precursors of sustainable aviation fuels. DESIRED targets sectors where a direct shift to the use of batteries or hydrogen is not yet viable.

Duration: 1 November 2022 - 31 October 2026