Institute for Energy Technology

IFE is an international non-profit research institute for energy and nuclear technology located in Norway. Since 1948, IFE has been a frontrunner in international energy research. IFE’s mandate is to undertake research and development within the energy sector, to carry out assignments in the field of nuclear technology and to develop more climate friendly energy technologies based on renewable and CO₂-free energy sources. We build bridges between research, education and industry. We have extensive infrastructure and full-scale laboratories where theoretical models are transformed into commercial activities. IFE participates nowadays in 47 Horizon Europe projects and serves as coordinator in 14 of them. The Department of Environmental Industrial Processes at IFE conducts research on hydrogen production, CO₂ capture, CO₂ utilization from materials to system level, with focus on process intensification.

The project’s objectives align to IFE’s strategic research on the development of processes for green energy transition such as conversion of CO₂ into platform chemicals and (e)fuels of non-biological origin. We are working on high-priority technologies within waste-to-value, and this project is a concrete contribution to Europe’s decarbonization goals. IFE sees the project as an opportunity to strengthen expertise in materials science, thermochemical processes and process intensification. At the same time, it provides valuable experience with international collaboration. The project is strongly linked to IFE’s social mission and strategic focus on clean energy and sustainable technology development.

IFE will develop a hybrid (nano)material, combining catalytic and water sorption functions, to intensify production of platform chemicals (syngas, DME) from CO₂ and renewable H₂. Advanced synthesis methods will be applied to produce efficient materials with optimum characteristics to achieve high gas conversion and high product yield. In addition, in-depth characterization techniques will be used to assess and understand the material properties. The materials will be tested in relevant process conditions to bring the technology readiness level to TRL3-4.