Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

ABOUT PARTNER
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE

The Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies “N. Giordano” (ITAE), located in Messina, is one of the Institutes of National Research Council of Italy (CNR).

The role of ITAE in the energy sector mainly consists in the development of innovative, highly efficient and green technologies and processes, spanning from fundamental to applied research. The main research pillars include the realization of fuel-cell stacks, the production of hydrogen and environmentally-friendly fuels as well as the integration of energy systems with renewable energy sources. The participation in many EU and extra-EU research projects, joined to an effective dissemination and communication action, allowed CNR-ITAE to gain over the years   an international leadership, as demonstrated by a market-oriented scientific production and several patents linked to project outcomes. Peculiar skills are related to the preparation and characterization of catalysts and smart materials, as essential components of devices for power generation, transformation or energy storage. The experimental tools and routines suitable for the testing of systems and prototypes in lab-scale facilities provide the basis for further development at higher technological readiness levels both in stationary and mobile energy sectors or biofuels applications.

PARTNER RESPONSIBILITY
WP3 - UTILIZATION OF CO₂ – DME PRODUCTION

The feasibility of the direct catalytic conversion of CO₂ (captured from large sources of CO₂ emissions) in presence of H2 (as a renewable energy source electrochemically generated from water electrolysis) into dimethyl ether (DME) will be carried out. This green fuel represents a very attractive alternative for diesel compression-ignited engines, with the major advantage of much lower pollutants and dusts emission in respect of the traditional diesel fuels. Catalytic data obtained during one-pot hydrogenation of CO₂-to-DME will be compared with data obtained from the conventional two-step process, involving first methanol synthesis and then its dehydration to DME in a second reactor. Evaluation of the obtained results with data from direct catalytic conversion processes of CO2 will be used to estimate, i.e.: CO2 conversion, energy demand for electrolyzers.