The case for CCU

Explore our dossier on Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), a transformative approach to reducing carbon emissions while creating valuable products. This resource showcases innovative CCU technologies and Catalisti’s role in accelerating their adoption, driving the transition to a renewable-carbon economy and a more sustainable chemical industry.

Essential reading

The case for CCU: CO₂ as feedstock

The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s (RCI) report, Making a Case for Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU), authored by Christopher vom Berg and Michael Carus (2023), presents a compelling argument for CCU as a transformative technology in global efforts to address climate change. While often overshadowed by Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), CCU offers unique advantages by integrating carbon into circular economies and sustainable supply chains. This blog explores the key insights from the report and underscores the critical role CCU could play in fostering innovation, reducing emissions, and creating a sustainable industrial landscape.

Trial of D-CRBN’s plasma technology to recycle carbon dioxide emissions from steel production begins at ArcelorMittal Belgium

D-CBRN, a pioneering Belgian CO2 recycling company, announced a  collaboration with ArcelorMittal and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). This trial involves testing D-CRBN’s technology to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) captured at ArcelorMittal’s steel plant in Ghent, aiming to expand the scope of its ongoing carbon capture pilot project with MHI.

UGhent researchers open the groundbreaking super-dry reforming (SDR) pilot plant

Researchers at the University of Ghent have achieved a breakthrough by disrupting chemical equilibrium in a scaled-up CO2 recycling process. This milestone is crucial for advancing technologies aimed at reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions and tackling climate change. To showcase the feasibility and scalability of their groundbreaking innovation, the researchers have developed the super-dry reforming (SDR) pilot plant.

Renewable carbon: the future of the chemical industry

The chemical industry must move beyond fossil fuels to embrace renewable carbon. This shift is essential to achieving a sustainable and circular economy. A Nova-Institute study entitled ‘Renewable Carbon is Key to a Sustainable and Future-Oriented Chemical Industry’ from 2018 developed a scenario for the chemical industry based on renewable carbon. Here are some key takeaways.

BioRECO₂VER: turning CO₂ into chemicals using bioconversion

Within the European Horizon 2020 project BioRECO2VER, an international consortium will take an important step in making bioconversion of CO2 commercially feasible. The 4 year project, coordinated by VITO, kicked off in January 2018 and will focus on refining biotechnological processes which can turn CO2 from industrial point sources into valuable platform chemicals like lactate and isobutene. The impact of the BioRECO2VER project is to provide an important next step in valorizing CO2, while at the same time offering alternative solutions for the production of chemicals.

Flemish research institutions join forces on Carbon Capture and Utilization: CATCO2RE and CO2PERATE projects approved

Two research projects focusing on the discovery of new technologies to transform waste CO2 into value-added chemicals have been funded by the Flemish Government. The CATCO2RE project (2.5 million euro) is funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). The CO2PERATE project (2.6 million euro) is funded by the Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen (VLAIO), and supported by Catalisti, the spearhead cluster for chemistry and plastics.