Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOES20241106017
- Term of Validity
- 6 November 2024 - 6 November 2025
- Company's Country
- Spain
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Investment agreement
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- The technology developed by a research group at a Spanish university optimizes synthetic natural gas production at low temperatures. It involves a catalyst that facilitates the conversion of green hydrogen into synthetic natural gas while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The main advantage is lower energy consumption, as the reaction is accelerated at much lower temperatures (from 190 ºC) compared to conventional catalysts, which typically operate above 300 ºC.
- Full Description
-
The technology developed by the researchers consists of a new catalyst that facilitates this conversion of green hydrogen into synthetic natural gas.
One of the technological challenges in this field is to achieve the production of synthetic natural gas minimising the energy consumption, and new catalysts are required for this purpose.
Currently, there are different catalysts that facilitate this reaction. However, the technology developed by this spanish University consists of obtaining a new catalyst that facilitates this reaction and presents a series of notable technical advantages. The main advantage is that reduces the energy consumption required and allows the reaction to be accelerated in a temperature range (190ºC) much lower than the working temperatures of most currently available catalysts (around 300ºC).
This new catalyst consists of a mixture of cerium, nickel and ruthenium oxides and is generated through a proprietary procedure developed by the university. The catalyst is active and selective accelerating the hydrogenation of CO2 to CH4, being the most active and selective one identified to date for obtaining synthetic natural gas at low temperatures. - Advantages and Innovations
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The main advantage of the catalyst is the production of synthetic natural gas in a more economical and sustainable way.
The new catalyst operates in a much lower temperature range than the other catalysts used in this process.
INNOVATIVE ASPECTS
Getting a catalyst of this type to operate in such a low temperature range is a complex technological challenge. It was necessary to select the most appropriate components, optimize their composition and develop a specific synthesis method that would allow the composition, morphology and surface structure to be controlled at a molecular level.
The result has been a much more efficient catalyst that considerably reduces the cost of generating synthetic natural gas. - Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
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Experience in commercializing innovative technologies, especially in the energy sector, focusing on synthetic natural gas, green hydrogen, and CO2 capture and utilization technologies.
Ability to scale technologies from laboratory to pilot plant and eventually to industrial scale.
Knowledge in licensing and cooperation agreements, as well as R&D projects to adapt the technology to specific industrial applications.
Expertise in energy process optimization and implementing solutions to reduce energy consumption in synthetic natural gas production.
Interest in the transition to cleaner energy, particularly in green hydrogen production, storage, and CO2 conversion into methane.
These capabilities are essential for companies interested in commercially exploiting the technology or forming strategic partnerships with the university’s start-up. - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- IPR status
- IPR applied but not yet granted
- IPR notes
- This technology is protected by patent application
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
Companies interested in acquiring this technology for commercial exploitation or participate in a joint venture together with a start-up of the spanish University throughout:
• Licensing agreements. - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 50 - 249
- SME <=10
- SME 11-49
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Investment agreement
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 04002002 - Hydrogen production
- Market keywords
- 06010003 - Energy for Industry
- Sector Groups Involved
- Renewable Energy
- Targeted countries
- All countries