Objective For biorefined fuels to fully replace fossil carbons, we must identify feedstock sources which are essentially unlimited in capacity and scalability and are independent of agriculture and forestry land use. Here, we propose to use electricity – preferably produced from renewable sources and at off pick hours – as the sole energy source for microbial growth and the conversion of CO2 into fuels. We aim to tackle the shortcoming of previous technologies by using completely soluble formate as a mediator between electrical current and living cells. Within an integrated electrobioreactor, CO2 will be reduced to formate at a very high rate, and the formate will be consumed by an engineered E. coli to produce propane and isobutene, gaseous hydrocarbons that are easy to separate from the liquid broth. Both propane and isobutene can be further converted into a range of products, including excellent fuel substitutes (e.g. isooctane), using conventional chemical engineering methodologies. Our approach comprises a truly interdisciplinary effort. Material scientists will design novel electrode compositions and structures, which will be used by electrochemists to optimize electrochemical formate production at high efficiency and current density. Metabolic engineers will adapt E. coli for growth on formate via two synthetic formate assimilation pathways, specifically designed to fit the metabolism of this model bacterium. Synthetic pathways for propane and isobutene biosynthesis will be implemented in the formatotrophic strains. Process engineers will construct a unique electrobioreactor to support simultaneous formate production and consumption. Experts in environmental assessment will analyze the benefits of the suggested technology, and the project vision and results will be disseminated to the scientific community and general public. The technology put forward in this proposal could have a transformative effect on the way we produce our chemicals and fuels. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic acidsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryhydrocarbonsmedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compoundsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels Keywords Electrochemistry renewable electricity conversion formate assimilation synthetic metabolism bio-refineries hydrocarbon fuels Programme(s) H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy Main Programme H2020-EU.3.3.5. - New knowledge and technologies H2020-EU.3.3.2. - Low-cost, low-carbon energy supply H2020-EU.3.3.3. - Alternative fuels and mobile energy sources Topic(s) LCE-06-2017 - New knowledge and technologies Call for proposal H2020-LCE-2016-2017 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-LCE-2017-RES-RIA-TwoStage Funding Scheme RIA - Research and Innovation action Coordinator IN SRL IMPRESA SOCIALE Net EU contribution € 285 825,18 Address VIA CARDUCCI 9A 33100 Udine Italy See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Nord-Est Friuli-Venezia Giulia Udine Activity type Other Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 285 825,18 Participants (14) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITY OF STUTTGART Germany Net EU contribution € 342 279,91 Address KEPLERSTRASSE 7 70174 Stuttgart See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart Stuttgart, Stadtkreis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 342 279,91 UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE Spain Net EU contribution € 295 360,51 Address CAMPUS DE SAN VICENTE RASPEIG 03690 Alicante See on map Region Este Comunitat Valenciana Alicante/Alacant Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 295 360,51 SINTEF AS Norway Net EU contribution € 345 394,63 Address STRINDVEGEN 4 7034 Trondheim See on map Region Norge Trøndelag Trøndelag Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 345 394,63 COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES France Net EU contribution € 345 182,46 Address RUE LEBLANC 25 75015 PARIS 15 See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 345 182,46 WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE Israel Net EU contribution € 149 174,30 Address HERZL STREET 234 7610001 Rehovot See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 149 174,30 IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 346 671,35 Address SOUTH KENSINGTON CAMPUS EXHIBITION ROAD SW7 2AZ LONDON See on map Region London Inner London — West Westminster Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 346 671,35 ALTAR France Net EU contribution € 489 596,88 Address 5 RUE HENRI DESBRUERES BIO CLUSTER GENOPOLE CAMPUS 91030 Evry See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Essonne Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 489 596,88 GLOBAL BIOENERGIES France Net EU contribution € 157 395,10 Address 5 RUE HENRI DESBRUERES 91000 Evry See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Essonne Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 157 395,10 C3 BIO-TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 147 902,91 Address 20 MANNIN WAY LANCASTER BUSINESS PARK CATON ROAD LA1 3SW LANCASTER LANCASTERSHIRE See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region North West (England) Lancashire Lancaster and Wyre Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 147 902,91 ARCELORMITTAL BELGIUM NV Belgium Net EU contribution € 154 810,80 Address KEIZERINLAAN 66 1000 Bruxelles / Brussel See on map Region Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/ Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Arr. de Bruxelles-Capitale/Arr. Brussel-Hoofdstad Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 154 810,80 IFEU - INSTITUT FUR ENERGIE- UND UMWELTFORSCHUNG HEIDELBERG GGMBH Germany Net EU contribution € 197 368,36 Address WILCKENSSTRASSE 3 69120 Heidelberg See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 197 368,36 BIOFACTION KG Austria Net EU contribution € 305 210,43 Address KUNDMANNGASSE 39/12 1030 Wien See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Ostösterreich Wien Wien Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 305 210,43 MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Germany Net EU contribution € 465 034,68 Address HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 465 034,68 B.FAB GMBH Germany Net EU contribution € 90 000,00 Address GOTTFRIED-HAGEN-STRASSE 60-62 51105 KOLN See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 90 000,00
