Biophysicist Prof. Dr. Roberta Croce from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a member of a European consortium aimed at converting solar energy and CO2 into butanol, an efficient and sustainable biofuel.
The project, titled S2B - Solar to Butanol, has received over €4 million in Horizon Europe funding. The consortium, coordinated by Professor Yagut Allahverdiyeva-Rinne from the University of Turku, aims to develop innovative technology for the direct production of solar fuels.
The S2B project, funded under the Horizon Europe Pillar II programme, addresses global challenges related to climate, energy, and mobility. The initiative focuses on advancing photosynthetic technologies to meet the European Union’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. With climate change mitigation in mind, the project aims to replace fossil fuels with renewable alternatives such as biofuels.
Global Collaboration for Sustainable Energy
The four-year consortium coordinated by the University of Turku brings together leading experts from diverse fields, including material science, process intensification, and sustainability analysis. Other participants are Åbo Akademi University and Lappeenrannan-Lahden Teknillinen yliopisto from Finland, Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan from Sweden, Nantes Universite and ERDYN Consultants Sarl from France, and Stichting VU and Universiteit Twente from the Netherlands.
The ultimate goal of the S2B project is to develop prototype systems capable of converting solar energy into butanol with a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency that surpasses current technologies. These prototypes will be tested at pilot sites in Finland and France, laying the groundwork for scaling up the production process in the future. With the support of the Horizon Europe programme, the S2B project exemplifies the European Union’s commitment to fostering innovative solutions that address climate change. As a critical player in the project, Roberta Croce’s pioneering work in photosynthesis will help pave the way for a more sustainable, energy-efficient future.
For more information, please contact: University of Turku