Recap NXTGEN Hightech Energy Workshop: Innovations in CO₂ Electrolysis
On December 2, 2024, the NXTGEN workshop "Innovations in CO₂ Electrolysis" took place at TNO in Rijswijk. During this event, experts and partners gathered to discuss the latest developments in CO₂ electrolysis. The NXTGEN consortium focuses on developing advanced technologies for sustainable energy production. The workshop provided an excellent opportunity to share knowledge within the consortium and explore collaboration opportunities with high-tech manufacturing partners such as SparkNano, VS Particle, Powall, and Magento.
Highlights of the Workshop Presentations
Introduction and CO₂ Technology
Mark Sassenburg from TNO SPES opened the workshop with an overview of the various research areas within TNO SPES, including CO₂ electrolysis, organic electrochemistry, biochemical conversions, gas treatment, and plastic recycling. He emphasized the challenges and advancements in the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ to CO, with stability remaining a key focus.
TNO coordinates developments in the NXTGEN-CO₂ domain in collaboration with COVAL Energy and GAFT. The emphasis is on the internal development of gas diffusion electrode catalysts (GDEs) for low temperatures and pressures, as well as building robust test infrastructures. Additionally, TNO aims to involve component developers from more mature markets by facilitating tests of their components for CO₂ electrolysis.
Developments in PEM Technology
Davide Ripepi from TNO STIP presented progress in anode, membrane, and accelerated stress tests (AST) for PEM water electrolysis. He highlighted the benefits of applying these technologies to CO₂ electrolysis, such as reducing iridium usage and improving system durability.
CO₂ Electrolysis at Pilot Scale
Alisson Marques from COVAL Energy and Niels Schouten from VS Particle shared their experiences with CO₂ electrolysis at pilot scale. They discussed the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and the development of electrodes using spark ablation technology. Their pilot projects showed promising results in terms of selectivity and current density.
COVAL Energy – GAFT is a young startup focused on high-pressure conversion of CO₂ to formate in an aqueous system for SAF production. VS Particle develops new catalysts using spark ablation technology. This technique enables the deposition of finely tuned nanoparticles of various metals, such as silver for the conversion of CO₂ to CO and tin for the conversion of CO₂ to formate. This method is also applied to low-loaded iridium catalysts in the PEM domain, which has already yielded promising results at COVAL.
Innovative Catalysts and Reactor Development
Ruud van Ommen from TU Delft presented new approaches in catalyst and reactor development for the electrochemical conversion of CO₂. His team is investigating microfluidic membrane reactors and the application of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) to create nanostructured materials with controlled properties.
Spatial Atomic Layer Deposition (sALD)
Paul Poodt from SparkNano introduced the sALD technique, which offers precise control over layer thickness and material loading. This technique, originally developed for hydrogen electrolysis, can be easily adapted for CO₂ electrolysis by replacing catalyst materials. Tip: An sALD workshop is scheduled for Q1 2025. Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page for more information and registration.
Sustainable Fuel Production
Araz Sheibani Aghdam from HyGear discussed the economic and technological feasibility of CO₂ electrolysis for sustainable fuel production. He compared different methods for CO₂ capture and energy sources, highlighting the advantages of low-cost CO₂ access from industrial flue gases versus the higher costs of biogenic CO₂ and direct air capture.
The NXTGEN workshop provided valuable insights into the current state of CO₂ electrolysis and the possibilities for future developments. Through collaboration and knowledge sharing during this workshop, significant steps have been taken towards further development of various technologies.
Would you like to learn more about developments in this field or attend a webinar or workshop? Keep an eye on the NXTGEN website or follow us on LinkedIn.