INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP SECURES €1.5 MILLION EU FUNDING TO ADVANCE RENEWABLE FUEL TECHNOLOGY FROM CO₂ CAPTURE

CESEL is excited to announce the launch of CATALYSE, a ground-breaking Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) project awarded €1.5 million by the European Commission. This project brings together 14 prestigious institutions and organizations worldwide to develop innovative technology that captures CO₂ from the air and industrial sources and converts it into renewable fuel, reducing the need for fossil fuels in the industrial and transport sectors across Europe, Asia, and Africa.

With CESEL and other partner institutions including the Newcastle University, University of Sheffield, University of Hull, and EGB Engineering (UK); Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway); Abo Akademi University (Finland); Tsinghua University, East China University of Science and Technology, Xian Jiaotong University, and North University of China (China); University of Pretoria and Mamadi and Company (South Africa); and Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (Nigeria), CATALYSE brings together diverse expertise in solar energy integration, CO₂ capture and utilisation, process intensification, and catalysis.

The project’s goal to convert CO₂ into dimethyl ether (DME), a sustainable fuel that can replace traditional fossil fuels, is especially timely for Nigeria. Given the country’s current energy crisis and the high costs associated with implementing its energy transition plan, CATALYSE will support Nigerian institutions by transferring knowledge to enable locally tailored solutions for renewable fuel production.

Dr Eni Oko at Newcastle University, CATALYSE’s Project Coordinator, highlighted the importance of this initiative: “CATALYSE represents a vital step towards a sustainable energy future. Through this unique collaboration, we aim to develop efficient CO₂ capture and fuel production technologies, creating a renewable fuel option that addresses both climate goals and energy needs for Europe, China, South Africa, and Nigeria. Our vision is to make a tangible impact on carbon reduction and help shape a resilient energy economy for regions in urgent need of alternatives.”

The four-year project, starting in January 2025, will enable 330 person-months of researcher exchanges among 25 experienced and 32 early-stage researchers from Europe, China, and Africa. Through this program, researchers will gain hands-on experience in experimental studies, process modelling, material design, and catalysis, fostering a robust and sustainable exchange of ideas and innovations. CATALYSE’s focus on renewable DME fuel production aligns with international climate goals, including those outlined in the Paris Agreement, and supports Europe’s Green Deal and Nigeria’s energy transition plan. The project’s innovations will bring economic and environmental benefits, paving the way for technology that both advances renewable energy production and reduces CO₂ emissions, transforming the industrial and transport sectors in developed and emerging economies.

CATALYSE aims to serve as a model for renewable fuel production, providing a clean, scalable energy source and strengthening global partnerships to ensure sustainable solutions to climate and energy challenges.

For further information, please contact Dr Patrick Tolani, CEO, Community Energy Social Enterprise Limited (CESEL), 52A Campbell Street (4^th Floor), Lagos.  Nigeria at:  ptolani@cesel.com.ng