Power-2-Chemicals

In the Power-2-Chemicals program line, we work on the direct electrosynthesis of chemical building blocks and higher value products using conventional and sustainable feedstock (e.g. CO₂, biomass-derived). The main challenges that are addressed are the development of electrochemical routes, reducing capital costs for electrochemical cells, increasing energy density and selectivity, choosing & using catalysts, and downstream processing.

Power-to-chemicals focuses on:

Electro-organic synthesis using electro-oxidation and electro-reduction to convert renewable feedstock (e.g. biobased furfural, HMF, alcohols) to key chemical building blocks.
Electro-reduction of CO₂ to C1 building blocks, focusing on Formic Acid, CO and Ethylene as key products.
Paired electrosynthesis in which product is produced at both cathode and anode of the electrochemical cell.
Alternatives for electrochemistry in conversion with electricity as the energy source, e.g. photochemistry and plasma chemistry.

VoltaChem’s short, medium and long term objectives are shown in the table below.

A typical approach for the full development of electrochemical processes can be decided in several phases:

Literature study and expert opinion phase;
Electrochemical system development;
Design and development of electrochemical process (including downstream processing as well as techno-economic evaluation studies);
System integration, pilot construction;
Pilot testing

The total duration time is typically 3-5 years. In some cases, VoltaChem is only contracted for one or more of the phases indicated below