HyFINE kick-off. More sustainable chemistry using biomass, waste, green hydrogen and green electricity
Fine chemicals and specialities are of great economic and social importance. They are needed for the production of, amongst other things, high-quality plastics and coatings, as well as medicines, cleaning products and electronics. “The challenge is to make production more sustainable and to replace fossil fuels and raw materials with biomass and waste streams, using green hydrogen and green electricity,” says Fernanda Neira D’Angelo, project leader of HyFINE.
Reducing dependence on fossil fuels
This transition will reduce emissions and provide a solution to the growing scarcity of raw materials. “Furthermore, given current geopolitical developments, we want to be less dependent on fossil fuel sources,” adds Neira D’Angelo. “And in doing so, we can strengthen the Netherlands’ position as an innovator in the chemical industry.”
Value chain and enabling technologies
HyFINE comprises two main areas. Neira D’Angelo: “To begin with, we want to build a value chain using currently available raw materials derived from waste and biomass, resulting in fine chemicals and speciality products that we really need. This requires an innovation ecosystem to share knowledge and train professionals. In addition, we are investigating enabling technologies for this sustainable production. Think of photochemical and electrochemical conversion. What are the challenges involved, and how can we make these technologies cost-effective and scalable? The plan is, amongst others, to use theoretical modelling and machine learning to accelerate the technological development of, for example, catalysts.”
Broad consortium
According to Neira D’Angelo, the broad consortium of companies and research institutions that will be working on HyFINE over the next five years already represents the value chain well. “With our group of 33 collaborating parties, we have struck a good balance between technology developers, industrial end-users and research institutions.” GroenvermogenNL is supporting the project, together with NWO, with over €19 million in subsidies. The project partners are investing nearly €5 million.
Full of confidence
Leading such a large project is no easy task, but with a technical project manager, task leaders and an administrative team, Neira D’Angelo is not on her own. “Ever since the first workshops, where we worked together on the project proposal for HyFINE, the process has been going well.” Last Friday, everyone involved came together again with the same enthusiasm. Neira D’Angelo is fully confident of a positive outcome. “It would be great if we could demonstrate new, sustainable production processes in practice through a number of successful start-ups or other success stories as examples, such as new scientific knowledge, the growth of our industrial partners and the development of our ecosystem, which will even grow further after HyFINE has come to an end.”
Want to know more about the research?
The HyFINE research project will run until 2031. Read more about this R&D project.