HELVA is a collaborative project structured across seven experimental and one coordination work packages (WPs), which haven been designed to address the diverse challenges posed by its interdisciplinary nature.
The consortium brings together expertise from various disciplines, aligning with the project’s core axes: materials science, catalysis and electrochemistry, operando spectroscopies, bio-driven material transformations, microbe engineering, and system integration.
WP1
CO2 electroreduction to acetate at high partial current
- Lead by: ICFO
- Partners involved: ICFO, TUL
- Objective: This WP focuses on the realization of CO2 electroreduction systems that upgrade CO2 into acetate with a Faradaic Efficiency greater than 60% at a current density greater than 0.3 A/cm2 (O1). We will focus on membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrochemical cells. We will begin by reproducing state-of-the-art results to then design, implement, and engineer catalysts with improved Faradaic Efficiency and current density.
WP2
CO2electroreduction to acetate at high concentration
- Lead by: ICFO
- Partners involved: ICFO, TUL
- Objective: This WP has the objective of achieving CO2 electrolysis into acetate f in purified streams at a high concentration (> 2 M) (O2). To do so, the team will focus on system-level innovation, such as system design, choice of membranes, catalyst integration, and reaction environment manipulation (catalyst coatings and electrolyte). Researchers will explore the implementation of different membrane systems (bipolar, anion and cation exchange, and combined approaches) to maximize the concentration of acetate anions and acetic acid at target selectivity and productivity, leading to an overall increase of the net concentration of the final product.
WP4
Multiscale computational modelling of fermentation
- Lead by: TUL
- Partners involved: TUL
- Objective: This WP will investigate the kinetics and thermodynamics of reaction pathways involved in the fermentation (O3). Within studies in this WP, it is expected that mechanistic details that underline the fermentation will be characterized using theoretical tools. The results should not only allow for deeper understanding of the mechanisms of the individual steps involved but also provide guidance to optimization of their conditions.
WP5
CO2 electroreduction to acetate at high partial current
- Lead by: ICFO
- Partners involved: ICFO, TUL
- Objective: This WP focuses on the realization of CO2 electroreduction systems that upgrade CO2 into acetate with a Faradaic Efficiency greater than 60% at a current density greater than 0.3 A/cm2 (O1). We will focus on membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrochemical cells. We will begin by reproducing state-of-the-art results to then design, implement, and engineer catalysts with improved Faradaic Efficiency and current density.
WP6
Microbe genetic engineering to produce PHA
WP7
System integration and prototype validation
WP8
System integration and prototype validation
- Lead by: ICFO
- Partners involved: ICFO, TUL, USP
- Objective:
- Establishing effective project management procedures
- Enhancing the communication flow within the consortium and between the consortium and the funding authority.
- Organising the kick-off and subsequent consortium meetings
- Developing quality control procedures and its implementation
- Identifying and recovering from any possible risks that could affect the project (in terms of results achievement, schedule, effort etc.)
- Communication of the project to the public, dissemination of the results to the target groups, and studying future exploitation activities.
- Management of the IP generated within the project.
Project HELVA was selected in the Joint Transnational Call 2022 of M-ERA.NET 3, which is an EU-funded network of about 49 funding organisations (Horizon 2020 grant agreement No 958174). The project is funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI, Spain); National Science Centre (NCN, Poland); São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil).