The Lurederra Technology Centre and the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), both Enercluster member entities, are participating in the collaborative Electro CO₂ project, an initiative aimed at transforming carbon dioxide into useful products such as fuels and chemical compounds traditionally derived from fossil resources.
The project, coordinated by ADItech, coordinator of the Navarre R&D&i System (SINAI), and funded by the Government of Navarra, focuses on the development of advanced chemical processes that enable the conversion of CO₂ into industrially relevant molecules such as methane, methanol and ethylene.
The technology is based on the use of nanoparticles generated through specific equipment, onto which CO₂ is injected under controlled conditions. From there, through the addition of water and the removal of oxygen, a chemical reaction is triggered, the outcome of which depends on the optimisation of variables such as temperature, pressure, CO₂ concentration and energy input.
The precise control of these parameters makes it possible to steer the reaction towards the production of specific compounds with higher purity, opening up new pathways for the production of materials and fuels without relying on fossil-based feedstocks.
From an industrial perspective, this technology offers a dual opportunity: on the one hand, the valorisation of CO₂ emissions as a resource; on the other, the generation of reusable products that can be integrated into companies’ own production processes, including applications such as chemical energy storage.
The project strengthens collaboration between Lurederra and UPNA, combining technological and scientific capabilities across the entire innovation value chain. While Lurederra focuses on transferring the technology towards industrial applications, UPNA is responsible for analysing the reactions and evaluating their performance, selectivity and feasibility.
Electro CO₂ thus stands as an example of collaboration within Navarra’s R&D&i ecosystem, aimed at developing solutions that support more efficient and sustainable industrial models, based on resource optimisation and reduced dependence on fossil raw materials.
Photo: Sergio Martín for Navarra Capital.
