SOCRATCES CONSORTIUM

Calix Europe Ltd, is an industrial participant in the European Union’s 7th Framework €6.4m project ASCENT on the development of novel CO2 sorbents for hydrogen production for the power industry.  Calix, through its licensed UK subsidiary, Millennium Generation Limited (MGL), is developing a pilot plant demonstrator of its Endex Reactor technology to produce low carbon power from natural gas with a £5.8m grant from the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, and has recently completed a FEED study for the project. Calix Europe is coordinating the LEILAC project which has received €12m under H2020, developing the core separation technology to enable the cement and lime industries to capture their CO2 emissions for minimal capital or operating cost.

As such, Calix brings nine years of development of this core technology, and has undertaken the initial technical steps required to integrate ENDEX within the novel ENDEX SOCRATCES cycle.

Main tasks attributed in SOCRATCES project :
CALIX leads WP3 (Solar calcination) and WP6 (Engineering and prototype construction), and also participates in WP1, WP2 (Carbonation), WP7 (Validation and test), WP8 (Business Development) and WP9 (Dissemination of results).

More than 600 people work at CERTH with the majority being scientists. CERTH has participated successfully in more than 1.000 competitive research projects (with a total budget exceeding 423 M€ and involving more than 1.100 international partner organizations) financed by the European Union (EU), leading industries from USA, Japan and Europe and the Greek Government via the General Secretariat of Research and Technology (GSRT). Four spin off companies have been already launched through CERTH research activities.
The Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute (CPERI) is a founding institute of CERTH and a leading research institute in Greece with 150 employees and an annual budget of approximately 9 million euros. CPERI was ranked as the 16th research organization with the highest numbers of participations in FP7 signed grant agreements during 2007-2012 by the FP7 Monitoring Report (2012). Currently, seven laboratories, organized into three research and development divisions, are in full operation in the Institute. The activities of the laboratories are supported by a horizontal technical division, which involves the large pilot-plant units and the analytical department. At present, the following areas are covered by CPERI/CERTH research: Advanced production systems for petrochemical processes; energy and environmental technologies; advanced materials technologies; large installations and facilities. CPERI also acts as consultant to the Greek Government, the Public Power Corporation (PPC), the Institute of Geological and Mineral Exploration (IGME) and to several other companies and organizations involved in the energy sector and is actively involved in the Governmental planning for power production.
The current project will be pursuit collaboratively by the Laboratory of Process Systems Design and Implementation (LPSDI) and the Aerosol and Particle Technology Laboratory (APTL).
LPSDI has been involved in numerous research projects funded by national and European agencies. LPSDI mainly targets focused research and industrial projects in the area of modeling, design, optimization and control of chemical and energy conversion processes. In these areas LPSDI has constructed and commissioned over 30 pilot-scale and commercial process units for private companies and universities.
LPSDI is supported by competitive personnel of 30 employees including researchers, graduate students, control engineers, technicians and collaborative faculty members. LPSDI has developed a unique and scale-specific methodology for the development of integrated systems and their control strategy. In the past 15 years, more than 30 skid mounted units (from design to commissioning), especially in the field of small scale test and pilot plant systems have been delivered.
APTL (http://apt.cperi.certh.gr) is a business unit of CPERI established in 1996. APTL’s objectives are to conduct basic and applied research and to develop new technological products responding to well-recognized market needs in the areas of clean transport, clean energy and in-situ monitoring. In total, APTL has participated in more than 60 large multinational projects and has served as coordinator in more than 15 of them. In addition to its research activities, APTL offers technological services to many industrial partners. Over the last decade, APTL has developed novel concepts, materials and reactor designs for solar thermochemical fuels synthesis and high temperature energy storage while it has almost 20-years of experience in the development of combustion emission control systems. APTL has received numerous awards, including the 2006, Descartes Prize for Collaborative Scientific Research and the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant.
Main tasks attributed in SOCRATCES project :
CERTH’s participation is focused in WP6 (Engineering and prototype construction), and also participates in the remaning of WPs, mainly in WP2 (Carbonation), WP5 (System integration and control) and WP7 (Validation and test).

CSIC plays an important role in scientific and technological policy, since it encompasses an area that takes in everything from basic research to the transfer of knowledge to the productive sector. Its research is driven by its centres and institutes, which are spread across all the Country, and its more than 15,000 staff, of whom more than 3,000 are staff researchers and the same number again are doctors and scientists who are still training. CSIC has 6% of all the staff dedicated to Research and Development in Spain, and they generate approximately 20% of all scientific production in the country. It also manages a range of important facilities; the most complete and extensive network of specialist libraries, and also has joint research units with other institutions such as universities.

The Institute of Materials Science of Seville (ICMS) (www.icms.us-csic.es) was created in 1986. In 1996, it moved to new premises at the Isla de la Cartuja, combining with two other Institutes to make up the Isla de la Cartuja Scientific Research Centre (Junta de Andalucia - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad de Sevilla). The Institute comprises three research units housed in the building at the Isla de la Cartuja and an external unit at the Physics Faculty on the Reina Mercedes campus. Today it incorporates research groups of CSIC and the University of Seville. The aim of these groups is to unite efforts in various areas of solid-state physics and chemistry, physical chemistry of surfaces, materials for energy and environment and other related disciplines of materials science. Such activity seeks to contribute to scientific development within the Research Plans of both regional and state authorities, and their EU equivalents, in the field of materials science and technology. The institute has 49 staff scientists, 19 laboratory technicians and 54 Ph.D. and postdoctoral students. 10% of the students come from other European countries.

Main tasks attributed in SOCRATCES project :
CSIC leads WP2 (Carbonation), offering expertise in energy storage and new materials. Also, CSIC will participate in WP1, WP3 (Solar calcination), WP7 (Validation and test), WP8 (Business development) and WP9 (Dissemination).

BIOAZUL has an extensive experience in European R&D&I projects, having participated in 4 projects within H2020, 16 projects within the FP7, 14 projects within the FP6, 2 projects within the IEE Programme and 1 project within Eco-Innovation. One strong component of BIOAZUL role within these projects has been the development of technical activities related to integrated water resource management and wastewater treatment, energy efficiency, biomass production (for energy purposes), uptake and reuse, food wastes (solid and liquid mainly coming from agro-food industry), agroforestry and agroecology, amongst others. Due to the active role of BIOAZUL participating in international (Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa) and national projects, BIOAZUL has an intensive network of contacts and a good understanding of the situation with regards to current research activities in their fields of expertise.

Main tasks attributed in SOCRATCES project :
BIOAZUL leads WP9 (Dissemination and exploitation of results), and also participates in WP1, WP4 (Power system), WP5 (System integration and control), WP6 (Engineering and prototype construction), WP7 (Validation and test), WP8 (Business development) and WP9 (Dissemination and exploitation of results).

Together with other programs as INNOCAMPUS Materials and Technology for Quality of Life or IEC 2011, has allowed to position our University in a line of highly competitive international excellence for comprehensive quality training. Scientific excellence in basic and applied research, internationalization based on mobility, attracting students and researchers, as well as strategic partnerships have made that research has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, which places it in positions of prestige in the national and international context.

It is the eighth Spanish university for scientific and academic production, according to the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities compiled by Jiao Tong University, Shanghai. Policies of cooperation with companies and organizations to develop innovative projects is one of our main challenges. All with the aim of achieving professional integration of our students with training throughout life in all a university that has almost five centuries of history, but has continued to invest in innovation and service to society. Our university is something more: it is culture, participation; In short, interest in learning and knowledge, by training students and generate knowledge to achieve greater economic progress and social welfare.

Main tasks attributed in SOCRATCES project:
University of Zaragoza leads WP5 (System integration and control) and WP7 (Validation and test), and also participates in WP2 (Carbonation), WP3 (Solar calcination), WP4 (Power system), WP6 (Engineering and prototype construction), WP9 (Dissemination and exploitation of results).

The Research Committee is legally responsible for the financial management of all types of funds for research, educational training, technological development and continuing education projects, and for providing scientific, technological and other related services or activities that contribute to linking education and research with industrial production and practical implementations.
The University Research Policy has two main objectives: to promote quality and to foster excellence. At the basis of the philosophy of quality are the principles of measurement, correction, evaluation and redefinition, which ultimately provide for the continuous development of products or/and services produced or provided by the institution.
The policy of excellence, aiming at the University’s distinction in the international research arena, is implemented by gathering a critical mass of scientific research projects, and adopting an interdisciplinary approach; it is further supported by setting up research teams and incorporating processes for innovation development in research activity. This policy also focuses on recognizing high individual performance, establishing new research units and fostering an environment that enhances innovative actions.
During the past three years, 985 researchers – distinguished scientists – have provided educational and research services in collaboration with a total of 7,263 external scientific associates for the implementation of 3,151 International, European and National Research and Technological Development (RTD) projects. 1,436 of these partners were universities, research centers and organizations, while 405 were businesses.
AUTh research and technological development projects are funded by national, European and international agencies. At national level, these agencies include ministries, local authority organizations, public sector organizations, and private sector businesses/companies. The majority of research projects are funded mainly by the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and other General Directorates of the European Commission. Additionally, a significant number of research projects are funded by European and international agencies, such as UNESCO, or major industries, which focus their business interests on technology and research applications.
AUTH will participate to this project with the Laboratory of Petrochemical Technology. The Laboratory of Petrochemical Technology headed by Prof. Angeliki Lemonidou belongs to the Chemical Engineering Department one of the seven departments of the Engineering School. The Laboratory of Petrochemical Technology has developed activities in education and research, while maintaining strong ties with Industry. Extensive national and international contacts of the Laboratory have been established over the years. Furthermore, she has supervised a significant number of Diploma (>90) and Doctoral Theses (13), carried out in the Laboratory, on a variety of applied as well as basic research topics.
The research activities are in the area of catalysis and reaction engineering. The topics under study include processes for CO2 capture with solid sorbents at high temperature the, sustainable production of hydrogen through advanced steam reforming of hydrocarbons and oxygenated feeds combined with CO2 capture, the selective oxidation of lower hydrocarbons, and the valorization of bio-based products to chemicals and fuels. Research activities focus on the development of materials mostly catalytic with tailor made properties using advanced synthesis techniques for specific applications, their characterization and performance evaluation, and also mechanistic and kinetic studies. The activities are complemented with reactor modelling and design of the processes under development.
The efforts in the area of CO2 capture started in 2007 and since then are continued with increasing intensity. The emphasis has been put on the development of novel solid materials with increased activity and stability in capturing CO2 at high temperature processes. The synthetic materials based mostly on CaO synthesized by applying advanced techniques are modified with inert dopants to strengthen their stability. The materials are characterized for their structural properties and tested in multiple cycles, initially in a thermobalance while at a next step under real reaction conditions. The capturing activity of the materials is evaluated in lab scale flow units in several processes like the purification of flue gases from natural gas combined cycle unit, the sorption enhanced- reforming of natural gas for the production of pure H2 in a single step with in-situ CO2 capture and recently in the novel process of chemical looping sorption enhanced steam reforming. In parallel, we have developed kinetic models describing the capturing performance of the synthesized materials. Knowledge exists on process design with advanced heat integration and technoeconomic aspects of the processes.

Main tasks attributed in the project :
AUTH will participate mainly in WP2 (Carbonation), WP3 (Solar calcination) and WP6 (Engineering & prototype construction), with presence in WP1, WP7, WP8 and WP9.

The staff of Vertech also collaborates with the UNEP/SETAC LCA Initiative and the World Resources Forum.  Vertech has organized the Second European Workshop in LCA in 2015 and is currently currently organizing the third European Workshop in LCA: http://vertech-group.com/lifecycleassessmentworkshop/speakers.php.

Main tasks attributed in the project :
Vertech group main contribution is focused on evaluating the life cycle costs and economic feasibility of implementing the calcium looping technology as a high temperature thermal storage method. Vertech Group will also perform the integral risk assessment derived from the development and implementation of the proposed technology. Therefore, Vertech will lead LCC analysis and risks assessments. (Task 8.2, Task 8.3 and 8.4), leading as well WP8.

VER leads WP8 (Business Development), and also participates in WP1 and WP9 (Dissemination of results).

The Institute for Research on Combustion carries out research in areas of strategic importance for the level of innovation, with implications on several fields: energy, industry, safety, environment, new materials. Activities, carried out at both theoretical and experimental level, aim to the develop efficient combustion/gasification processes with low environmental impact and to develop new technologies for electric and thermal energy production, thermo-valorization of wastes, biomass and alternative fuels (such as solar energy). Within this framework studies are dedicated also to the development of advanced techniques of characterization of fossil fuels, combustible mixtures derived from the transformation of fossil fuels, particulate and gaseous pollutants produced by combustion. This activity includes also the detailed modelling of chemical reacting systems and the measurement of parameters relevant to industrial risk assessment such as flammability and explosion limits. The general scope is the progressive upgrade of already available combustion technologies in terms of environmental friendliness and the development of innovative alternative technologies able to optimize the energetic efficiency and minimize the environmental impact of combustion in terms of emission of pollutants as well as of greenhouse gases.

The study of different issues has been favoured by close collaboration at the national level, with the University of Naples Federico II, with the Politecnico di Milano and other prestigious Italian universities, and at international level, with different Research centres, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), Sandia National Laboratories (USA), the University of Leeds (UK), the Department of Chemical Engineering of Imperial College London (UK), the University of Twente (Netherlands), The Electricité de France (France), the Cerchar (France), the CNRS (France). The IRC has been recognized to play an excellence role as a reference institution on combustion processes, both nationally and internationally. The key role of IRC in different topics (energy, environment and industrial production) is confirmed by: 1) a lot of papers published in journals or conference proceedings; 2) participation in EU programs and initiatives (projects Joule, Coke, Environmental, Fox, Fair, Brite); 3) participation in national projects.

Main tasks attributed in SOCRATCES project:
CNR will participate mainly in WP2 (Carbonation) and WP3 (Solar Calcination), with presence in WP1, WP5, WP6, WP7 and WP9.

ISITEC’s involvement in business projects often includes participation in every step of the “technology supply chain” from project analysis and early concept development of the right technical systems to choosing, assembling, programming, installing and maintaining the fitted system components.  Additionally, ISITEC produces custom-made electronic circuitries and microcontrollers along with the required software so that innovative solutions for all kinds of digital measuring and control systems can be found. Upon request, the company can also install advanced visualization technologies providing convenient operation and monitoring of automated systems. Naturally, maintenance and reparation services of their systems are also part of ISITEC’s product and services portfolio. ISITEC has participated in a number of national and European projects, such as TREAT & USE and ALGATEC (I and II), utilizing its deep technical knowledge and expertise in the development of customized automation solutions for diverse applications.

Due to ISITEC’s demonstrated capacity to develop and manufacture customized automation software, control units, sophisticated measurement tools and other technical solutions for several customer-oriented applications, the company is highly qualified to fulfil its envisaged role within the project, i.e. the development of the control module of the SoLCaLStor system, designed to enable a harmonious interaction between the monitoring as well as the fertigation module in order to achieve optimal response of the system to plant requirements (e.g. by controlling and monitoring the dosage pumps, injection pumps, mixing station, distributor, fertilizer dosage, wastewater quality etc.). For ISITEC, its involvement in the project allows it to yet again demonstrate its expertise in developing adequate hardware and software solutions for diverse automation applications, to widen its project portfolio and business network, and establish itself as a trusted partner in the field of automation and control systems on national and European markets.

Main tasks attributed in the project:
SPI will participate mainly in WP5 (System integration and control), WP6 (Engineering & prototype construction) and WP7 (Validation and test), with presence in WP1, WP4, WP8 and WP9.