Trinomics is one of the project partners within the FP7 SCOT Consortium (Smart CO2 Transformation – SCOT). Reducing CO2, protecting the environment and our resources, but also reducing dependency on raw materials is a major societal challenge. In this context, the EU has adopted ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050. So far, most attention from policy makers and industry has been paid to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) which intends to concentrate CO2 and store it into geological sites. The current SCOT project (in which Trinomics is one of the project partners) is focusing on an emerging and insufficiently addressed area presenting strong research, market development and economic growth potential: the recycling/utilization of CO2 through its transformation into valuable products via chemical or biological technologies. In addition to reducing net CO2 emissions, this approach brings the benefit of reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources.

Indeed, CO2 is no longer considered as a waste but as an efficient resource enabling industries to:

• Reduce dependency on fossil fuels and primary raw materials for the production of industrial and transportation fuels, basic chemicals, and building materials;
• Increase the use of renewable energies from intermittent sources (e.g. solar, photovoltaic, or wind) by providing a solution for electricity storage, via the conversion of CO2 into gaseous or liquid fuels in periods where potential production exceeds demand on the grid and would therefore otherwise be wasted.

SCOT is the first ever European initiative in the field of CO2 recycling/utilization. Through a strong coordination of efforts among the Consortium, the SCOT project will enable to:

• Define a Strategic European Research Agenda aimed at developing new breakthrough solutions and market applications;
• Attract additional EU clusters, regions and investors to participate in multi-disciplinary research programmes and other collaborative actions defined in a Joint Action Plan;
• Propose structural policy measures to favour the transition to a new European society based on the paradigm of ‘CO2-as-a-resource’, thereby significantly improving the EU’s overall competitive position and environmental performance on the international scene.

The SCOT Consortium consists further of: Pole Greenwin (coordinator), Axelera, University of Sheffield, Yorkshire Chemical Focus Ltd, The Centre for Low Carbon Futures LBG, Leeds City Council, DCMR Milieudienst Rijnmond, Service Public de Wallone, Interface Europe.

If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to contact Jeroen van der Laan.