CONDOR · Project

Solar-Powered CO2 Conversion into Methanol and Clean Fuels Using Earth-Abundant Materials

energyTestedTRL 5

condor-h2020.eu

Imagine a device that works like a leaf — it takes sunlight, water, and CO2, and instead of making sugar, it makes fuel. CONDOR built exactly that: a two-stage solar device where the first part uses sunlight to split water and CO2 into a gas mixture called syngas, and the second part converts that syngas into methanol or DME, a clean fuel used in engines and heating. The whole system was built using cheap, globally available materials — no rare metals — specifically to keep costs low enough for real-world use. A working prototype was assembled and tested outdoors at a real research site in Italy.

By the numbers

Target solar-to-syngas efficiency

Target solar-to-DME efficiency

3 months

Continuous outdoor operation target

Consortium partners

Countries in consortium

45%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

Industry partners (including 3 SMEs)

The business problem

What needed solving

Chemical and fuel producers face mounting pressure to decarbonize their processes and reduce dependence on fossil feedstocks, while CO2 emissions remain a growing cost under EU carbon pricing. Producing methanol and DME from CO2 using renewable energy is technically attractive but has historically been too inefficient to compete with fossil-based routes. CONDOR addresses this by developing a solar device that converts CO2 into these valuable products using only sunlight, water, and earth-abundant materials.

The solution

What was built

A two-compartment prototype: a photoelectrochemical cell that splits water and CO2 into syngas using sunlight, paired with a catalytic reactor converting syngas into methanol and DME. A gas treatment unit linking both compartments was constructed and tested, and the full CONDOR prototype was assembled and installed at the CNR outdoor testing site for real-world validation.

Audience

Who needs this

Methanol and DME producers seeking low-carbon feedstock alternativesGreen hydrogen and synthetic fuel developersCarbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology companiesBio-based chemical producers using biomass oxidation processesIndustrial gas companies exploring solar-driven fuel storage

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Chemical manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Methanol and DME producers seeking to decarbonize feedstock

If you are a chemical company producing methanol or DME and facing pressure to cut your carbon footprint — this project developed a solar-powered device that converts CO2 directly into these products. The system targets 6% solar-to-DME efficiency using only earth-abundant, low-cost raw materials with no rare metals. A working prototype was built and tested outdoors at the CNR site for three months of continuous operation. This could replace part of your fossil-based feedstock with a solar-driven, CO2-consuming process.

Renewable energy and green fuels

mid-size

Target: Green hydrogen and synthetic fuel producers

If you are a company developing green hydrogen or synthetic fuels and need a cost-effective solar energy storage pathway — this project developed a photoelectrochemical system targeting 8% solar-to-syngas efficiency. Syngas (a mixture of H2 and CO) is a versatile feedstock for fuels and chemicals. The modular design supports different output configurations depending on your target product. With 5 industry partners shaping the consortium, commercial application was a priority from day one.

Bio-based chemicals

SME

Target: Producers of platform chemicals from agricultural residues or biomass

If you are a company converting biomass or agricultural residues into high-value chemicals and looking for cleaner oxidation routes — this project demonstrated solar-driven oxidation of alcohol-derived biomass to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, a valuable bio-based chemical. The process uses salt water or biomass-derived alcohols as low-cost starting materials. This could reduce your reliance on expensive chemical oxidants and cut the energy cost of oxidation steps in your production process.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What efficiency levels did the system achieve?

The project set targets of 8% solar-to-syngas efficiency and 6% solar-to-DME efficiency, with three months of continuous outdoor operation as the validation benchmark. Based on available project data, a prototype was assembled and installed at the CNR testing site, but final verified performance results beyond the target specifications are not published in the accessible dataset.

Can this technology scale to industrial production volumes?

The device was designed with a modular architecture to allow different configurations and output targets, which supports scaling. All materials were selected from globally abundant, low-cost sources with no rare or supply-constrained metals. Based on available project data, the demonstrated scale is prototype-level; industrial-scale validation would be the logical next step.

What are the IP and licensing options for interested companies?

Based on available project data, specific IP arrangements and licensing terms are not disclosed in the CORDIS record. With 5 industry partners actively involved in the consortium, commercial exploitation agreements are likely in place. Contact the coordinator at the University of Bologna or the industrial partners directly for licensing discussions.

How much does it cost to build or license this system?

Based on available project data, no commercial pricing or cost-per-unit figures are published. The project deliberately used abundant raw materials and low-temperature, low-energy fabrication routes (sol-gel chemistry, mild hydrothermal processes) to reduce manufacturing costs, but specific cost data is not available in the accessible project record.

How long before this could be integrated into an existing production facility?

The project closed in October 2024 with a working prototype tested at an outdoor site. Based on available project data, the technology is at prototype stage and would require further engineering and pilot-scale testing before integration into industrial facilities. A precise commercialization timeline cannot be determined from current data alone.

Does this process comply with EU environmental and chemical regulations?

The project included life cycle assessment and socio-economic impact analysis as explicit parts of its scope, indicating regulatory awareness was built in from the start. The process uses water, CO2, and earth-abundant materials with a favorable environmental profile. Based on available project data, specific regulatory approvals for commercial deployment are not documented.

Consortium

Who built it

CONDOR was led by the University of Bologna and brought together 11 partners from 7 countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, and the US). The 45% industry ratio — with 5 industry partners including 3 SMEs — is unusually high for a research project at this stage, signaling that commercial exploitation was a priority from the outset. The mix of 4 universities and 2 research institutes alongside industry ensures fundamental science is paired with application-oriented development. The inclusion of a US partner adds international reach and potential access to licensing or commercialization pathways beyond the EU.

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNACoordinator · IT
FUNDACIO INSTITUT CATALA D'INVESTIGACIO QUIMICAparticipant · ES
HYGEAR BVparticipant · NL
ENGIEparticipant · FR
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILLinternationalpartner · US
HYGEAR OPERATIONS BVthirdparty · NL
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
BELGISCH LABORATORIUM VAN ELEKTRICITEITSINDUSTRIEparticipant · BE
UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHTparticipant · NL
AMIRES SROparticipant · CZ
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FERRARAparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

Lead institution is ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna, Italy. Search coordinator name and contact via the project website or Google AI Search.

Order a report on this consortium See ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Interested in connecting with the CONDOR research team? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to the coordinator and relevant industry partners. Contact us for a one-page technology brief.

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