The large-scale research project HyCARB has officially launched with a meeting in Utrecht. Within the consortium, 45 parties are collaborating on technologies to make the production of carbon-based chemicals more sustainable through green hydrogen and green energy. The project is receiving over €35 million in funding from GroenvermogenNL and NWO, supplemented by €10 million from the participating partners.
The impetus is urgent: the demand for these essential chemicals—used in plastics and fuels, among other things—will increase sharply towards 2050, while production is currently still largely fossil-based and CO₂-intensive. HyCARB is therefore investigating alternative routes based on green hydrogen and sustainable energy, including electrochemical conversion and the electrification of processes.
A unique aspect of the project is that various technological routes are being developed and compared within a single program. At the same time, the research focuses on practical challenges, such as the use of fluctuating renewable energy and the stability of new materials.
HyCARB runs through 2029 and also focuses on training talent for green chemistry. The project is part of the R&D program of GroenvermogenNL, which aims to strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of the Dutch industry.
