30 June – 01 July 2025 | Vienna, Austria
The REUSE project consortium gathered for its 1st General Assembly on 30 June and 1 July 2025, hosted at the energy-efficient headquarters of Clean Energy Solutions CES in Vienna, Austria. This marked a significant milestone, coming 8 months after the project’s launch in October 2024 in Thessaloniki, Greece.
The General Assembly brought together all project partners to share updates and align efforts across the work packages. The event highlighted promising technical progress and reinforced collaborative strategies for future phases.
Key Technical Highlights
On Bioenergy and Gasification Systems – led by University of Aveiro (UAveiro)
As leader of this work package, UAveiro presented impressive results from their in-depth analysis of 28 different biomass samples, including refuse-derived fuels (RDF), residual forest biomass (eucalyptus and pine), and agricultural residues such as olive pomace and rice husks. Preliminary gasification trials confirmed effective blending of RDF up to 30%, showcasing potential for optimized biomass utilization.
The team also explored catalyst applications to reduce gas toxicity and tar formation, employing advanced modeling techniques like CFD to predict behavior under varying compositions. These efforts aim to refine the design and operational efficiency of gasifiers in the upcoming scale-up phases.
University of Leicester (ULEIC) reported significant progress in developing iron and manganese catalysts supported on ceramic foam filters (Al2O3). While incorporating the catalyst via wet impregnation and capillary pressure is relatively straightforward, obtaining the catalyst via electrodeposition presents some challenges. The researchers are exploring routes of copper deposition, followed by iron and manganese. The catalysts are engineered for in-situ gasifier integration to mitigate tar issues. The characterisation of the catalysts is ongoing in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), and the effectiveness of the catalyst is being further evaluated in collaboration with the University of Aveiro for real-world testing using a gasifier.
On CO₂ Capture Solvents and Enzyme – led by Novonesis
Novonesis, in collaboration with the University of Newscastle (UNEW) and The Centre for Research & Technology, Hellas (CERTH), advanced the project’s CO₂ capture efforts through enzyme immobilization. The team showcased a robust carbonic anhydrase, resilient to high temperatures and amine solvents for prolonged time periods. Experimental trials show promising activity of the new format developed in collaboration with UNEW.
CERTH complemented these findings with kinetic modelling of CO₂-alkanolamine reactions, including MEA, DMCA, and AMP, establishing groundwork for high-fidelity simulations to support system integration. These models will feed into broader system modeling and integration tasks led by Manchester Metropolitan University and YSquared in subsequent months.
On CO₂ Capture & Utilization Components – led by University of Newcastle (UNEW)
UNEW showcased design innovations in Rotating Packed Beds (RPBs), emphasizing material porosity and packing structures critical to performance. Unlike previous wave-like structures, the new packing design consists of in-house fabricated net-like disk plates supported by spacers to prevent fabric compression. While mechanical characterization tests are still pending, UNEW expects the fabrics to exhibit improved rigidity and structural resilience.
Simultaneously, CERTH unveiled its progress in electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction cells, with a focus on membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). The goal is to achieve >80% efficiency through precise design of flow dynamics, material selection, and pressure management during assembly. CERTH emphasized three critical performance factors: material selection, internal flow configuration, and component integration. To avoid structural damage during assembly, they introduced a fabrication process using isostatic pressure and thermal contact, which ensures safe and reliable compression without compromising component integrity.
ULEIC reported significant progress in developing novel catalysts for the effective reduction of CO2 to Formic Acid. Substrates made of carbon paper coated with different supports (carbon black, graphene, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes) were subjected to electrochemical and plasma activation, followed by Sn electrodeposition. Differences were analysed based on shape and amount of tin deposited in each case. The team plans to refine the experimental conditions further and continue characterisation in collaboration with MMU and CERTH.
System Integration and Modelling – led by YSquared
CERTH contributed additional 2D simulations of electrochemical cells, highlighting the need for more granular experimental data to validate models. Their work emphasizes the importance of accurate boundary conditions and real-time flow metrics for reliable performance forecasting.
YSquared, CERTH and UAveiro spearheaded the system integration work, presenting preliminary models for enzymatic CO₂ absorption and CO₂ electroreduction. These models, incorporating dynamic and radial variables, will support CES’s REUSE Observatory’s broader analyses—ranging from socio-economic assessments to compliance with evolving EU carbon capture legislation.
Expanding Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement
ETA Florence, leading dissemination and exploitation, reported the successful launch of the REUSE website, a well-attended public webinar with 124 participants, and various on-going communication materials and activities. Upcoming strategies include integrating project visibility into international conferences and academic curricula, with plans to host joint workshops at events like EUBCE 2026 in the Hague, Netherlands.
CES provided key updates on Austria’s recent legislative shift allowing underground CO₂ storage, opening new opportunities for pilot deployments. The organization also initiated dialogue with major utility providers to gauge market readiness for CCU technologies.
Future engagements:
The REUSE project continues to expand its presence within the international research community through upcoming high-profile events. Dr. Athanasios Papadopoulos from CERTH has been invited as guest speaker by the organizing committee of the 6th International Enzyme and Bioprocess Days, scheduled to take place from 27–29 August 2025 in İzmit, Turkey. His presentation will spotlight the use of AI algorithms to model CO2 capture in Rotating Packed Bed reactors with Carbonic Anhydrase.
Adriana Castro Vargas from the ULEIC will represent the consortium at the European Corrosion Congress from 07-11 November 2025 in Stavanger, Norway, with an oral presentation titled: “Development and Corrosion Performance of Sn-Based Catalysts for Effective CO₂ Reduction to HCOOH – A Possible CO₂ Utilisation Pathway.” This presentation will share cutting-edge findings on catalyst durability and selectivity in electrochemical CO₂ conversion—key elements of the REUSE project’s research on sustainable carbon utilization.
Project Management and Final Remarks
The meeting concluded with an administrative review led by Coordinator Dr. Athanasios Papadopoulos, who reported that all work packages are progressing well, some even ahead of schedule. The meeting reaffirmed the consortium’s shared commitment, collaborative spirit, and scientific drive to make REUSE a success.