SolDAC’s ambition is nothing short of groundbreaking, however, reinventing the ethylene industry in a competitive way while remaining truly carbon-neutral is no picnic. The path of innovation is tricky, and while creating something that is considered sustainable might be doable, getting there might not be as environmentally friendly as one might think. The project task “Ensuring environmental responsibility: Eco-design approach” addresses this issue. In general, eco-design is gaining relevance in the field of Research & Development – proof of this is the European Green Deal’s recently proposed Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) – however, its implementation has become of special interest for CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage) technologies, such as SolDAC. These technologies aim to reach beyond carbon neutrality and gain a carbon-negative status, which requires their atmospheric CO2 removal capacities to surpass the equivalent emissions undertaken during their building, installation, operation, and maintenance. That’s when eco-design comes into play – envisioning integral design measures to reduce those inevitable emissions to a minimum.
SolDAC’s take on eco-design
The project’s eco-design strategy takes advantage of its early development stage – let us remember the project’s proof-of-concept nature. The technical partners working out the science behind SolDAC were asked to come up with several candidates for the specialty materials implemented in the three different sub-units of the technology. In doing so, LOMARTOV – leader of SolDAC’s triple pillar sustainability guidance and validation – was then able to make a preliminary assessment of the environmental impacts that the implementation of each candidate material would suppose. By assessing these concerns during the design stage of the sub-units, a sustained feedback loop could be maintained between LOMARTOV and the partners working on the technical development, allowing the concept to be as low-impact as possible from the get-go. After all, it’s better to prepare than to repair.
LOMARTOV’s tactic for eco-design implements a robust methodological foundation that integrates approaches across two fronts – environmental and regulatory – while closely following the recommendations from the European Commission in both regards. Namely, their approach integrates the standardised Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework for environmental screening and the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework & EU Critical Raw Materials Act for regulatory compliance. By adopting this comprehensive take on eco-design, SolDAC ensures a clear path towards being not only carbon-negative but also ready for exploitation. This double benefit is a direct consequence of the early-stage implementation of sustainability principles, which are inherently holistic and lie at the core of LOMARTOV’s tasks within the project.
The outcome of SolDAC’s eco-design task is a set of twelve design recommendations for the technical partners working on the technology’s concept and prototype. These deal with the selection of the materials composing: the optical element and absorptive liquid element for the Full Spectrum Solar collector; and the electrocatalysts, electrodes, and substrates of the Photoelectrochemical unit. They also include a set of protocol recommendations for the synthesis procedures of the Direct Air Capture unit’s nanoporous materials.
By successfully putting into action its eco-design strategy, SolDAC becomes a true testament to the advantages that this approach represents for emerging technologies. Foreseeing the potential environmental shortcomings of a technically feasible concept allows for early mitigation, preparing it for its climb up the TRL ladder to market introduction. It is important, however, not to lose sight of opportunities to further complement the graces of eco-design. For instance, by implementing Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles and screening for Social Acceptance, SolDAC embeds a social optic into its value proposition, ensuring its pathway towards being a well-rounded and all-encompassing sustainable solution.
Written by Mihaela Mirea, LOMARTOV
