Six months after news surfaced of planned US federal funding cuts for climate-oriented projects, the Trump administration has now decided… Full text: https://carbonherald.com/trump-administration-preserves-federal-funding-for-us-dac-and-hydrogen-hubs/ Author Sasha Ranevska Source Carbon Herald, 2026-04-17. Supplier 1PointFive Bloom Energy Carbon Engineering Carbon Removal Alliance Chevron Corporation EQT Corp. Heirloom Carbon Technologies US Department of Energy (DoE) UT-Battelle Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe

© MartensMultimedia WPU, Vitol’s plastics recycling division, plans to build a new chemical recycling plant for end-of-life plastics in the port of Rotterdam, alongside Vitol’s refinery, VPR. The new plant will have the capacity to process 80,000 tonnes a year of post-consumer end-of-life plastic and is expected to be one of Europe’s largest chemical recycling plants. WPU (Waste plastic Upcycling) has developed the batch pyrolysis technology with which it will convert end-of-life plastic into pyrolysis oil. This is a circular feedstock for the production of circular chemicals, intermediates and new plastics that the plant will use to convert used plastic into pyrolysis oil. This is a circular feedstock for the production of circular chemicals, intermediates and new plastics, and can therefore serve as a substitute for fossil naphtha. WPU already applies this pyrolysis technology at its plant in Denmark, which has a recycling capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year. This plant is currently operating close to full capacity. WPU is among the first companies to deploy plastics pyrolysis at commercial scale for end-of-life plastic. Located alongside VPR in Rotterdam, the facility would be well placed to connect recycled output with existing industrial infrastructure. The plant will incorporate the furnace technology designed to reduce emissions and lower energy use. Similar technology has already been deployed at Vitol’s Rotterdam refinery, VPR. Vopak announced they will be repurposing around 20K cbm for the storage and handling of pyrolysis oil, integrating with Vopak’s existing naphtha storage hub at Europoort. More Information https://www.vitol.com/new-plastics-recycling-at-vpr-rotterdam Source Port of Rotterdam, press release, 2026-04-10. Supplier Vitol Denmark Vopak Waste Plastic Upcycling WPU Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe

© MartensMultimedia WPU, die Kunststoffrecycling-Sparte von Vitol, plant den Bau einer neuen Anlage für das chemische Recycling von Altkunststoffen im Rotterdamer Hafen, direkt neben der Vitol-Raffinerie VPR. Die neue Anlage wird eine Kapazität von 80.000 Tonnen ausgedientem Kunststoff aus dem Endverbraucherbereich pro Jahr haben und dürfte zu den größten chemischen Recyclinganlagen Europas zählen. WPU (Waste Plastic Upcycling) hat die Chargenpyrolysetechnologie entwickelt, mit der das Unternehmen Altkunststoffe in Pyrolyseöl umwandeln wird. Es handelt sich um einen Kreislaufrohstoff für die Herstellung von Kreislaufchemikalien, Zwischenprodukten und neuen Kunststoffen, den die Anlage zur Umwandlung von Altkunststoffen in Pyrolyseöl verwenden wird. Dies ist ein Kreislaufrohstoff für die Herstellung von Kreislaufchemikalien, Zwischenprodukten und neuen Kunststoffen, der somit als Ersatz für fossiles Naphtha dienen kann. WPU setzt diese Pyrolysetechnologie bereits in seinem Werk in Dänemark ein, das über eine Recyclingkapazität von 20.000 Tonnen pro Jahr verfügt. Dieses Werk läuft derzeit nahezu auf Hochtouren. WPU gehört zu den ersten Unternehmen, die die Kunststoffpyrolyse im kommerziellen Maßstab für Altkunststoffe einsetzen Da sich die Anlage in Rotterdam in unmittelbarer Nähe von VPR befindet, wäre sie ideal gelegen, um die recycelten Produkte mit der bestehenden industriellen Infrastruktur zu verbinden. Die Anlage wird mit einer Ofentechnologie ausgestattet, die darauf ausgelegt ist, Emissionen zu reduzieren und den Energieverbrauch zu senken. Eine ähnliche Technologie wurde bereits in der Rotterdamer Raffinerie von Vitol, der VPR, eingesetzt. Vopak gab bekannt, dass das Unternehmen rund 20.000 Kubikmeter für die Lagerung und den Umschlag von Pyrolyseöl umfunktionieren und in den bestehenden Naphtha-Lagerkomplex von Vopak in Europoort integrieren wird. Source Port of Rotterdam, Pressemitteilung, 2026-04-10. Supplier Vitol Denmark Vopak Waste Plastic Upcycling WPU Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe

NatureWorks, a US manufacturer of bioplastics, has urged the US government to implement tariffs on imported polylactic acid (PLA) resin… Full text: https://www.plasticstoday.com/legislation-regulations/natureworks-advocates-tariffs-to-rebuild-us-pla-sector Author David Hutton Source Plastics Today, 2026-04-17. Supplier Arkema BASF Corporation (US) Braskem Mitsubishi Chemical NatureWorks LLC Novamont S.p.A. Plantic Technologies Ltd TotalEnergies Corbion US Government Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe

© Agriodor Agriodor, a French Agtech company using natural scents to protect crops, has successfully raised €15 million Series A to accelerate its growth and the global deployment of its olfactory biocontrol technology. The round was led by the Environmental and Solidarity Revolution Fund, financed by the societal dividend of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and managed by Crédit Mutuel Impact. Regional funds Région Sud Investissement and CAAP Création (Crédit Agricole Alpes-Provence), alongside historical investors Capagro, Ambra Capital, and SWEN Capital Partners, also participated in the round. The financing will support the development of the company’s technology platform and research and development programs, as well as the international rollout of Agriodor’s solutions. Founded by Alain Thibault and Dr. Ené Leppik, spin-off of INRAE, Agriodor develops a new class of crop protection solutions based on scents naturally emitted by plants to influence insect behavior. The approach offers a high performance, sustainable and scalable alternative to traditional pesticides, as the agricultural sector faces mounting pest resistance, regulatory pressure and biodiversity loss. Agriodor recently achieved a worldwide first by successfully deploying a semiochemical (allomone) in row crops – a breakthrough application in sugar beet fields in France. This investment will now enable the company to apply this new technology to additional crops and insect families, accelerate its commercial expansion in Europe, Latin America and North America,and further strengthen its R&D capabilities through artificial intelligence. Addressing both insecticide resistance and biodiversity loss Dozens of insect pest species (notably among aphids, whiteflies, thrips) have developed resistance to insecticides and represent major threats to global agriculture. More than 1,000 cases of insecticide resistance have been documented in aphids alone (Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2023). Climate change is further accelerating their spread, making sustainable alternatives increasingly essential. At the same time, the collapse of insect populations observed worldwide over the past 20 years has major consequences for biodiversity. In some regions, insect biomass has declined by around 70–75% over recent decades (Hallmann et al., PLOS ONE, 2017), and up to 40% of insect species may be at risk of extinction (Sánchez-Bayo & Wyckhuys, Biological Conservation, 2019). This biodiversity loss has direct implications for agriculture, particularly for soil health and pollination— with insects supporting over 75% of global food crop types (IPBES, 2016) — as well as broader impacts on ecosystems at a global scale. Agriodor’s R&D platform relies on innovative high-throughput chemical ecology approaches and continues to accelerate thanks to reverse chemical ecology. By reproducing natural plant scents and combining them with formulations adapted to different cropping systems around the world, the company provides tools that attract, repel, or disrupt pest insects to control their populations. This approach makes it possible to bring products to market with development costs up to 10 times lower and timelines twice as fast as conventional insecticides, while also addressing key challenges such as resistance management and selectivity. A portfolio of biocontrol solutions at multiple development stages The company’s first product, targeting sugar beet aphids, is commercialized through an exclusive distribution agreement with Syngenta, supporting French sugar beet growers in the fight against yellows virus. Agriodor is now expanding its portfolio to new crops and insect families such as fruit flies, whiteflies and thrips, markets that collectively represent more than $4 billion. For some of these projects, Agriodor is adopting a co-development model by partnering with established crop protection companies to accelerate adoption and regulatory approval while aligning with sustainability objectives. With 8 patents across 3 patent families, Agriodor brings together a multidisciplinary team of 42 specialists from 6 nationalities, including 8 PhDs, and relies on strategic advisors including senior experts from leading crop protection companies. To further expand its impact, 15 R&D partnerships have been established across Europe, China and Brazil. Alain Thibault, Co-Founder and President of Agriodor, said: “ We are convinced that the future of crop protection lies in biology, not chemistry. With this funding round, we mark Agriodor’s transformation — from a leading French Agtech startup into a global specialist in scent-based biocontrol. Our technology provides farmers with an effective tool to protect yields while preserving the environment and human health.” Dr. Ené Leppik, Co-Founder and CTO, added: “ Olfaction is a universal language for insects, and we cracked it. Our technology represents a revolution in crop protection — high-performing, residue-free and biodiversity-friendly — that can be used alone or in combination with any other crop protection tool.” Nadia Bouzigues, Managing Director of Crédit Mutuel Impact, said: “ The biocontrol technology developed by Agriodor is highly distinctive in its mode of action and represents a promising solution to protect both crops and biodiversity in a sustainable way. We are delighted to support the talented Agriodor team and provide them with the means to deploy their innovative platform across Europe and worldwide. This investment is fully aligned with the strategy of our Environmental and Solidarity Revolution Fund, financed by the societal dividend of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.” Key figures and data – Founded: 2019 – Founders: Alain Thibault (President), Ené Leppik (CTO) – Laboratories: Rennes (headquarters) and Aix-en-Provence, France – Team: 42 FTE (8 PhDs, 6 nationalities) – Patents: 8 across 3 patent families – Platform: 10× less costly and 2× faster than conventional pesticides – First product: commercialized via Syngenta – Target markets: aphids, fruit flies, whiteflies, thrips and others – Funding round 2026: €15 million – Lead investor: Environmental and Solidarity Revolution Fund managed by Crédit Mutuel Impact – Transaction advisors: Trachet (financial advisor to Agriodor), Parallel Avocats (legal advisor to Agriodor), Alérion Avocats (legal advisor to Crédit Mutuel Impact) About Agriodor Founded in 2019, Agriodor develops scent-based biocontrol solutions that sustainably protect crops by influencing insect behavior using natural plant scents. The company operates in Europe with developments planned overseas, particularly in Latin America. Agriodor has two laboratories in France: its headquarters in Rennes, dedicated to strategic R&D and the company’s technological core, and a second site in Aix-en-Provence focused on pests specific to the Mediterranean basin. About the Environmental and Solidarity Revolution Fund Managed by Crédit Mutuel Impact within the asset management division of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, the Environmental and Solidarity Revolution Fund — financed by the societal dividend of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale — is a sustainable impact fund (Article 9 under SFDR regulation). With the ambition of reaching €1.5 billion by 2027, the Fund does not pursue a short-term financial return target, prioritizing ecological and social value creation. It aims to accelerate the transformation of production models and invest in key sectors of the climate and environmental transition where financial needs are significant and existing investors remain insufficient. Since its launch in July 2023, the Fund has completed 25 investments. About Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale A leading bancassurer in France with 81,000 employees serving 31 million customers, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale provides a full range of financial services to individuals, local professionals and companies of all sizes through its network of 4,000 branches. Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, the first bank to adopt the status of a mission-driven company, brings together Crédit Mutuel regional federations across France as well as the Caisse Fédérale de Crédit Mutuel, Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel (BFCM), and its subsidiaries including CIC, Euro-Information, Assurances du Crédit Mutuel (ACM), TARGOBANK, Cofidis, Beobank (Belgium), Banque Européenne du Crédit Mutuel (BECM), Banque Transatlantique, Banque de Luxembourg and Homiris. Source Agriodor, press release, 2026-04-15. Supplier Agriodor INRAE Syngenta Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe

© Novocarbo Die Stadtwerke Dessau haben mit dem Climate-Tech-Unternehmen Novocarbo und deren Obergesellschaft Hevella Carbon einen langfristigen Wärmeabnahmevertrag geschlossen. Novocarbo plant im Zuge dessen den Carbon Removal Park Dessau. Nach Beschluss des Aufsichtsrates wurde die Vereinbarung im Beisein von Oberbürgermeister Dr. Robert Reck, Stadtwerke-Geschäftsführer Dino Höll sowie Geschäftsführer der Novocarbo GmbH Dr. Karl Reinhard Kolmsee geschlossen. Der Vertrag sieht eine jährliche Liefermenge von bis zu 13,5 Gigawattstunden (GWh) vor, die den wirtschaftlichen und kontinuierlichen Betrieb der Anlage über eine Laufzeit von 15 Jahren ab Inbetriebnahme sicherstellen soll. Im Gegenzug wird die Fernwärmeversorgung GmbH Dessau die bereitgestellte grüne Fernwärme abnehmen. Die Inbetriebnahme ist derzeit spätestens zum 1. Januar 2028 geplant. Damit entsteht für die Region eine langfristig planbare, fossilarme Wärmequelle. „Mit diesem Vertrag gehen wir einen wichtigen nächsten Schritt in der Weiterentwicklung unserer Wärmeversorgung hin zur Klimaneutralität“, erklärt Oberbürgermeister Dr. Robert Reck. „Die Nutzung innovativer Technologien und regionaler Potenziale ist ein starkes Signal für aktiven Klimaschutz vor Ort“, so Reck. Biochar Carbon Removal als nachhaltig zirkulärer Infrastrukturansatz Im Zentrum des Projekts steht das Verfahren Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR). Dabei werden im Carbon Removal Park Dessau biogene Reststoffe wie beispielsweise Holzhackschnitzel oder Fruchtkerne durch Pyrolyse in Pflanzenkohle und erneuerbare Wärme umgewandelt. Der natürliche Kohlenstoff bleibt stabil in der Pflanzenkohle gebunden und schafft die Grundlage für dauerhafte CO₂-Speicherung in nachgelagerten Anwendungen. Durch die hohen Pyrolysetemperaturen von 600-700°C entsteht zudem nutzbare Abwärme, die in das Fernwärmenetz eingespeist wird. Dank der Verwertung organischer Reststoffe ergibt sich ein zirkuläres Modell, in dem bestehende Ressourcen sinnvoll wiederverwertet anstatt entsorgt werden. Ein Ansatz, der insbesondere für Kommunen und Industrie zunehmend an Bedeutung gewinnt. „Dessau-Roßlau ist ein starkes Beispiel dafür, wie regionale Partnerschaften die Dekarbonisierung voranbringen können – und wie wir weiter mit lokaler Biomasseverarbeitung und Energieversorgung die Region gezielt stärken wollen“, sagt Dr. Karl Kolmsee, Geschäftsführer von Novocarbo. Pflanzenkohle: ein innovativer Rohstoff für die Bundesgartenschau 2035? Neben der Wärmeerzeugung produziert Novocarbo an ihren Standorten Pflanzenkohle mit vielfältigen Einsatzmöglichkeiten. In der Landwirtschaft und urbaner Begrünung verbessert sie Bodenstruktur sowie Wasser- und Nährstoffnutzung und unterstützt dabei die Biodiversität. Vor diesem Hintergrund bildet die geplante Bundesgartenschau 2035 in Dessau-Roßlau eine ideale Kulisse für zukunftsgedachte Gärten. Pflanzenkohle kann als Bestandteil moderner Substrate dazu beitragen, klimaresiliente Grünflächen und Böden sowie CO2-Speicherung im urbanen Raum umzusetzen, und so innovative Ansätze direkt sichtbar und erlebbar machen. Über Bodenanwendungen hinaus eröffnet Pflanzenkohle auch in der Bauindustrie neue Chancen. Als Zusatzstoff beispielsweise im Asphalt kann sie fossile Materialien teilweise ersetzen und zur Entwicklung emissionsärmerer Baustoffe sowie Verbesserung der Materialeigenschaften beitragen. Beitrag zur kommunalen Wärmewende Mit der geplanten Anlage wird ein wichtiger Baustein zur klimafreundlichen Wärmeversorgung geschaffen und das Fernwärmenetz zuverlässig ergänzt. Gleichzeitig profitieren die Bürgerinnen und Bürger in Dessau-Roßlau von einer langfristig sicheren und zunehmend regenerativen Wärmeversorgung. „Die Nutzung unvermeidbarer Abwärme aus der Pflanzenkohleproduktion ist ein konkreter Beitrag zum Klimaschutz. So können wir fossile Energieträger schrittweise durch innovative Wärmequellen ersetzen und unsere Fernwärmeversorgung nachhaltig in Richtung Klimaneutralität weiterentwickeln“, sagt Stadtwerke-Geschäftsführer Dino Höll. Die Zusammenarbeit schafft Planungssicherheit und unterstützt den kontinuierlichen Ausbau treibhausgasarmer Wärmequellen in Dessau-Roßlau. Grundlage hierfür sind die kommunale Wärmeplanung der Stadt Dessau-Roßlau sowie der Fernwärme-Transformationsplan der Stadtwerke Dessau. Dieser beschreibt den Weg zu einer klimaneutralen Wärmeversorgung und sieht vor, bis 2030 mindestens 30 Prozent erneuerbare Energien oder unvermeidbare Abwärme in das System zu integrieren. Er baut auf dem energie- und klimapolitischen Leitbild der Stadt Dessau-Roßlau auf, das eine deutliche Steigerung des Anteils erneuerbarer Energien am Wärmeverbrauch vorsieht. Über die Stadtwerke Dessau Die Dessauer Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH – DVV – Stadtwerke sind der kommunale Energieversorger der Stadt Dessau-Roßlau. Sie versorgen Dessau-Roßlau mit Energie, einschließlich der Fernwärme, Mobilität, Wasser und Telekommunikation und sind einer der größten Arbeit- und Auftraggeber in Dessau-Roßlau. Im Rahmen ihrer Wärmetransformation treiben sie den Ausbau klimafreundlicher Energiequellen voran. Dazu gehören unter anderem geplante Anlagen im Rahmen der innovativen Kraft-Wärme-Kopplung (iKWK) am Standort Zoberberg mit einer erwarteten Wärmeerzeugung von rund 5,2 Gigawattstunden pro Jahr sowie weitere Projekte an den Standorten Wagonbau und Kochstedt mit zusätzlichen Kapazitäten von zusammen etwa 5,7 Gigawattstunden jährlich. www.dvv-dessau.de Über Novocarbo Novocarbo ist ein Climate-Tech-Unternehmen, das Biochar Carbon Removal im industriellen Maßstab umsetzt. Das Unternehmen produziert und handelt Pflanzenkohle und bringt diese in Anwendungen für Bodengesundheit, Wassermanagement und nachhaltige industrielle Materialien. Gleichzeitig stellt Novocarbo erneuerbare Wärme für Kommunen und Industrie bereit. In den kommenden zwei Jahren plant Novocarbo zwei weitere Standorte, um zusätzliche Kapazitäten unter anderem für die Dekarbonisierung kommunaler Infrastrukturen weiter voranzutreiben. Source Novocarbo, Pressemitteilung, 2026-04-16. Supplier NovoCarbo GmbH Stadtwerke Dessau Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe

© Novocarbo Stadtwerke Dessau (municipalities of Dessau) have signed a long-term heat offtake agreement with climate-tech company Novocarbo and its parent company Hevella Carbon. As part of this collaboration, Novocarbo plans to develop the Carbon Removal Park Dessau. Following approval by the supervisory board, the agreement was signed in the presence of Mayor Dr. Robert Reck, Stadtwerke CEO Dino Höll, and Novocarbo Managing Director Dr. Karl Reinhard Kolmsee. The agreement covers an annual supply of up to 13.5 gigawatt hours (GWh) of heat, ensuring the economic and continuous operation of the facility over a period of 15 years from commissioning. In return, Fernwärmeversorgung GmbH Dessau will purchase the green heat generated. Commissioning is currently planned for no later than January 1, 2028. This will create a reliable, fossil-reduced heat source for the region. “By signing this agreement, we are taking an important next step in developing our heat supply towards climate neutrality,” says Mayor Dr. Robert Reck. “The use of innovative technologies and regional resources sends a strong signal for active climate protection at the local level.” Biochar Carbon Removal as a circular infrastructure approach At the core of the project is the Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) process. At the Carbon Removal Park Dessau, biogenic residues such as wood chips or fruit pits are converted via pyrolysis into biochar and renewable heat. The carbon remains stably bound in the biochar, creating the basis for long-term CO₂ storage when used in appropriate downstream applications. The high pyrolysis temperatures of 600–700°C also generate usable process heat, which is fed into the district heating network. By utilizing organic residues, the system follows a circular model in which existing resources are repurposed rather than discarded. An approach that is becoming increasingly relevant for municipalities and industry. “Dessau-Roßlau is a strong example of how regional partnerships can drive decarbonization – and how we can further strengthen the region through local biomass processing and energy solutions,” says Dr. Karl Kolmsee, Managing Director of Novocarbo. Biochar: an innovative material for Federal Horticulture Show (BUGA) 2035? In addition to heat generation, Novocarbo produces biochar with a wide range of applications. In agriculture and urban greening, it improves soil structure, as well as water and nutrient retention, while supporting biodiversity. Against this backdrop, the planned Federal Horticulture Show (BUGA) 2035 in Dessau-Roßlau presents a unique opportunity to showcase forward-looking landscape solutions. As part of modern substrates, biochar can help create climate-resilient green spaces and soils, while enabling long-term carbon storage in urban environments – making innovative approaches visible and tangible. Beyond soil applications, biochar also opens up new possibilities in the construction sector. As an additive in materials such as asphalt, it can partially replace fossil-based inputs and contribute to lower-emission construction materials, while also enhancing material performance. Supporting the municipal heat transition The planned facility represents an important building block for climate-friendly heat supply and will reliably complement the existing district heating network. At the same time, residents of Dessau-Roßlau will benefit from a secure and increasingly renewable heat supply. “The use of unavoidable waste heat from biochar production is a tangible contribution to climate protection. It allows us to gradually replace fossil fuels with innovative heat sources and move our district heating system step by step toward climate neutrality,” says Stadtwerke CEO Dino Höll. The partnership provides long-term planning certainty and supports the continuous expansion of low-emission heat sources in Dessau-Roßlau. It aligns with the city’s municipal heat planning as well as the transformation plan of Stadtwerke Dessau, which aims to integrate at least 30% renewable energy or unavoidable waste heat into the system by 2030. This builds on the city’s broader energy and climate strategy, which targets a significant increase in the share of renewable energy in overall heat consumption. About Stadtwerke Dessau Dessauer Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH – DVV – Stadtwerke is the municipal utility of Dessau-Roßlau. It provides energy, including district heating, as well as mobility, water, and telecommunications services, and is one of the region’s largest employers and contracting entities. As part of its heat transition strategy, they are expanding climate-friendly energy sources. This includes planned innovative combined heat and power (iCHP) projects at the Zoberberg site with an expected annual heat output of around 5.2 GWh, as well as additional projects at the Wagonbau and Kochstedt sites with combined capacities of approximately 5.7 GWh per year. www.dvv-dessau.de About Novocarbo Novocarbo is a climate-tech company implementing Biochar Carbon Removal at industrial scale. The company produces and trades biochar and brings it into applications for soil health, water management, and sustainable industrial materials. At the same time, Novocarbo provides renewable heat for municipalities and industry. Over the next two years, Novocarbo plans to develop two additional sites to further expand capacity, particularly for the decarbonization of municipal infrastructure. www.novocarbo.com Source Novocarbo, press release, 2026-04-16. Supplier NovoCarbo GmbH Stadtwerke Dessau Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe

Schwere landwirtschaftliche Maschinen wie Rübenroder sind aus Sicht des Institute for a Sustainable Hydrogen Economy gut geeignet, um in Zukunft mit sogenannten Sweet-LOHC betrieben zu werden. Unternehmen aus der Agrarwirtschaft könnten ihren Bedarf an Treibstoff damit selbst decken. © Adobe Stock Flüssige organische Wasserstoffträger sollen noch nachhaltiger werden. Forschende des Forschungszentrums Jülich untersuchen dafür in einem neuen Schwerpunkt am Institute for a Sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE) Speichermoleküle, die aus Bioabfällen hergestellt werden und zusätzliche Vorteile bieten. Die als Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) bezeichneten Trägerstoffe lassen sich ähnlich leicht lagern und transportieren wie flüssige Kraftstoffe. Gleichzeitig verfügen sie über die besondere Eigenschaft, erhebliche Mengen Wasserstoff zu binden und wieder abzugeben. Man spricht hier auch von „chemischer Wasserstoffspeicherung“. Die Trägerflüssigkeit selbst wird bei diesen Prozessen nicht verbraucht und kann nach dem Entladen erneut beladen werden. In dem neuen Forschungsschwerpunkt nehmen Jülicher Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler nun eine neue Generation dieser Wasserstoffträger in den Blick, die aus Pflanzenresten und weiteren biogenen Reststoffen hergestellt werden können. „Mit Trägern auf Basis nachwachsender Rohstoffe wird die chemische Wasserstoffspeicherung noch einmal deutlich attraktiver und nachhaltiger“, sagt Prof. Peter Wasserscheid. Der Direktor am IHE gilt als einer der maßgeblichen Wegbereiter der LOHC-Technologie. Kostengünstige Katalysatoren Die neuen, biogenen Träger versprechen noch einen weiteren Vorteil: Für die Freisetzung des Wasserstoffs aus dem Trägermolekül reicht bereits Kupfer als Katalysator aus. Dies geht aus einer im Sommer 2025 veröffentlichten und von Peter Wasserscheid kommentierten Arbeit eines chinesischen Forscherteams im renommierten Journal Nature Energy hervor. Ein Katalysator ist ein Stoff, der eine chemische Reaktion ermöglicht oder beschleunigt. Andere Systeme benötigen dagegen üblicherweise deutlich teurere Edelmetalle wie Platin. Außerdem ermöglichen die biogenen Trägermoleküle, Wasserstoff bereits bei deutlich niedrigeren Temperaturen freizusetzen. Das spart Kosten – ebenso wie das preiswertere Katalysatormaterial. „Nun gilt es zum einen, den besten katalytischen Pfad zu finden, um diese Trägermoleküle aus biogenen Reststoffen zu gewinnen. Zum anderen entwickeln wir neue Kupfer-Katalysatoren, um Beladung und Entladung noch effizienter zu machen“, erklärt Prof. Regina Palkovits, ebenfalls Direktorin am IHE, die Entwicklung innovativer Katalysatoren-Konzepte für den neuen Schwerpunkt verantwortet. Die sogenannten Sweet-LOHC spielen ihre Stärken in der Agrarwirtschaft aus. Am Beispiel der Zuckerproduktion wird das deutlich: Aus den Abfällen einer Zuckerfabrik werden mithilfe von Bioreaktoren biogene Wasserstoffträger hergestellt. Nachdem diese mit Wasserstoff beladen worden sind, kommen sie beispielsweise auf schweren Erntemaschinen als Treibstoff zum Einsatz: Wasserstoff wird auf der Maschine aus dem Trägermolekül freigesetzt, um dann in einer Brennstoffzelle in Energie umgesetzt zu werden. Das entladene Trägermolekül kann anschließend gleich dem Prinzip einer Pfandflasche wieder mit grünem Wasserstoff beladen werden. © FZ Jülich / Clarissa Reisen Hoffnungsträger für das Rheinische Revier Die Fragestellungen sind nicht nur wissenschaftlich interessant, sondern bieten auch großes Anwendungspotenzial für die Wertschöpfungsketten im Rheinischen Revier. Der Forschungsschwerpunkt firmiert daher auch unter dem Begriff „Sweet-LOHC“. Denn bei der ansässigen Zuckerindustrie fallen große Mengen Reststoffe an, die sich für die Produktion nutzen lassen. „Das Rheinische Revier ist für die Demonstration solcher Technologiekonzepte prädestiniert. Hier gibt es reichlich biologische Reststoffe, Windräder und Photovoltaik-Anlagen. Landwirte können mit dem grünen Strom Elektrolyseure betreiben, den Wasserstoff auf den biogenen Träger laden und damit ihre Traktoren und Maschinen antreiben“, erklärt Peter Wasserscheid. Seine Vision für die Zukunft: Große Maschinenringe, in denen Landwirte organisiert sind, könnten eine neue Form der energetischen Selbstversorgung realisieren, die von fossilen Energieträgern weitgehend unabhängig ist – einschließlich eines emissionsfreien Betriebs der Großfahrzeuge. Etablierte Speichermethoden für Wasserstoff bleiben zugleich weiterhin relevant, wie Peter Wasserscheid betont: „Es gibt nicht die eine Energietechnologie, die alle Anforderungen erfüllt. Jede Speichermethode hat ihre Stärken und ihre spezifischen Anwendungsfelder.“ Kontakte Prof. Dr. Peter Wasserscheid, Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE) Phone: +49 2461/61-4499 E-Mail: p.wasserscheid@fz-juelich.de Prof. Dr. Regina Palkovits Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE) Phone: +49 2461/61-0000 E-Mail: r.palkovits@fz-juelich.de Source Forschungszentrum Jülich, Pressemitteilung, 2026-04-15. Supplier Forschungszentrum Jülich Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe

Formic acid, first discovered in ants, could soon be produced from captured CO 2, opening the door to more sustainable consumer products. © frank60, Shutterstock.com Europe’s cities emit huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Two essential urban services – waste incineration and wastewater treatment – are among the biggest contributors to municipal CO2 emissions in the EU. These systems are vital for public health and urban life, yet they produce emissions that are difficult to eliminate entirely. But what if that CO2 did not have to go to waste? For an international group of researchers, urban carbon pollution presents an opportunity. Working together in the EU-funded WaterProof initiative, they are developing a way to capture CO2 from these processes and convert it into formic acid: a simple, highly versatile chemical used across many industries. This could allow emissions from waste incinerators and wastewater to be turned into the cleaning products under our sink, or even the leather on our shoes. Turning a problem into a resource Efforts to tackle climate change focus largely on renewable energy, electrification and improved efficiency. But some sources remain stubbornly hard to eliminate. “Some emissions are difficult to stop,” said Annelie Jongerius, an electrochemist and programme manager at Dutch chemical company Avantium, which coordinates the research. One option is to capture the CO2 and store it underground. But the WaterProof team is exploring a more circular alternative: keeping carbon in use rather than locking it away. “It would be nicer if we could use it,” Jongerius said. “At the same time, we need alternatives to fossil feedstocks for producing chemicals.” “If you take CO2 from wastewater, turn it into a product, and then use that product to clean your toilet so it flows back into the wastewater system, you create a complete loop.” – Annelie Jongerius, WaterProof. That challenge is particularly visible at facilities like those operated by Dutch waste management company HVC, which runs two major waste incinerators in the Netherlands. “We have to take in whatever waste society produces,” said Jan Peter Born, HVC’s waste-to-energy innovation manager. “We have no means of regulating CO2 emissions, apart from encouraging people to buy less and recycle more.” HVC already captures some CO2 and sells it to greenhouse farmers, who use it to increase the yields of crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers. But this is only a partial solution. “Most of the CO2 administered to the plants is released again through the greenhouse roof,” Born explained. “From our legal perspective, it’s a delayed emission. It is the farmer who achieves the emission reduction as he avoids gas-firing to produce CO2.” The WaterProof researchers aim to go a step further by turning captured carbon into useful products that keep it out of the atmosphere for longer. From CO2 to cleaning products At the heart of the WaterProof innovation is an electrochemical process that converts captured CO2 into formic acid using renewable electricity. “It’s one of the simplest conversions you can make,” said Jongerius. An electrical current drives the reaction in a specialised cell, reducing CO2 into formic acid. Because the system runs on renewable electricity and uses waste-derived carbon, it reduces reliance on fossil-based raw materials. The process may also offer additional benefits. In an electrochemical cell, two reactions take place at the same time, one at each electrode. While the WaterProof team focuses on converting CO2 into formic acid, they have also explored pairing this with a second reaction that produces hydrogen peroxide and related compounds. These substances can help break down stubborn pollutants in wastewater, including residues from pharmaceuticals and pesticides. However, this part of the process is still at an early stage and is not being implemented in the current demonstration system. The team is testing their CO2-derived formic acid in eco-friendly cleaning products such as toilet and surface cleaners. “It performs exactly the same as conventionally produced formic acid,” Jongerius said. “It’s the same molecule.” Beyond cleaning, the project is exploring the use of CO2-derived formic acid in leather tanning. While the acid can be used for all types of leather, the team is currently working with Icelandic company Nordic Fish Leather to bring eco-friendly fish leather – a more sustainable alternative to traditional cattle-based leather – to market. Scaling up for real-world impact While the chemistry is promising, scaling up is the next challenge. Building on earlier EU‑funded research, the team is now working on a large-scale pilot unit in which multiple electrochemical cells are stacked together, increasing the volume of CO2 that can be processed. If successful, it will pave the way for commercial‑scale plants. The modular design allows the system to be adapted to different sites, from wastewater plants to incinerators. The aim is to demonstrate the WaterProof process in the summer of 2026, showing that a fossil fuel-free production chain can operate under real-world conditions. Such systems could eventually be integrated into urban infrastructure, turning cities into hubs for circular chemical production rather than sources of emissions. Recovering valuable materials from waste The potential of the work being carried out goes beyond carbon reuse. The researchers are also exploring how formic acid can be used to recover valuable materials from waste streams. By combining it with other compounds, they are developing deep eutectic solvents – low-toxicity liquids capable of dissolving and binding to metals in waste so that the metals can be extracted. “We have no means of regulating CO2 emissions, apart from encouraging people to buy less and recycle more. – Jan‑Peter Born, WaterProof. Many valuable materials end up in incinerator ash and wastewater sludge, including copper, lithium, cobalt, and even small amounts of gold – all critical for modern technologies and the green transition. HVC already uses mechanical processes to recover metals, separating heavier particles from ash in a process similar to gold panning. But this produces mixed metal streams that are less valuable. The new solvents could allow more precise separation. “These eutectic solvents can be tailored to target specific metals,” Born said. “That means you could recover individual materials rather than mixtures, which increases their value.” However, economic realities remain a barrier. Gold is the only recovered metal that commands a decent price, Born explained. For many others, including rare earths, the market price is still too low to justify the cost. This raises broader questions about policy and priorities, particularly as demand for critical materials continues to grow: how much societies are willing to subsidise recovery from waste, and whether strategic value should win out over purely market‑driven decisions. Closing the loop This kind of “waste-to-resource” thinking is gaining traction across Europe. New EU rules planned for 2026 aim to make recycled materials more widely available – and more widely used. If successful, they could help turn circular ideas like those behind WaterProof into everyday reality, supporting Europe’s ambition to lead the world in circular production by 2030. By linking carbon capture, chemical production, water treatment and material recovery, the researchers are bringing together multiple elements of that vision in a single system. For Jongerius, the concept is both practical and symbolic. “If you take CO2 from wastewater, turn it into a product, and then use that product to clean your toilet so it flows back into the wastewater system, you create a complete loop,” she said. “It is the ultimate example of the circular economy.” Research in this article was funded by the EU’s Horizon Programme. The views of the interviewees don’t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media. Author Michael Allen Source European Commission, Horizon Magazin, press release, 2026-04-14. Supplier Avantium Technologies B.V. European Commission European Union Horizon Europe Nordic Fish Leather NFL (Iceland) Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe

Two innovative Estonian technology companies, Fibenol and UP Catalyst, are expanding their collaboration to develop lignin-derived hard carbon and high-surface-area activated carbon for energy storage applications, including sodium-ion batteries and supercapacitors. Building on joint research that began in 2022, the two companies have now formalised their work through a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at long-term collaboration and industrial-scale development of battery anode materials originating from Estonian woody biomass. Wood industry residues are often overlooked resources. Many assume that little value can be created from them. At Fibenol, however, this underused stream is seen as an opportunity. Using its innovative Sunburst® technology, wood residues are transformed into advanced biomaterials: lignin, wood sugars, and crystalline cellulose. When wood is processed, valuable fibers and sugars are extracted first. One of the remaining components is lignin, the structural polymer that gives wood its strength. At Fibenol, we call it Lignova®, a high-purity lignin powder designed as a building block for new materials. “Lignin has historically been treated as a low-value side stream, but in reality, it is one of the largest renewable sources of carbon available to industry,” says Peep Pitk, Chief Development Officer at Fibenol. “By refining it into a consistent, high-purity material, we can open pathways where renewable carbon from wood becomes part of entirely new material value chains.” In collaboration with UP Catalyst, that pathway now extends into energy storage. Through a high-temperature process, this lignin is transformed into hard carbon, a material used in sodium-ion batteries, where its microscopic pores store sodium atoms during charging and discharging cycles. “This collaboration is significant because it connects two critical pieces of the emerging energy storage puzzle: a reliable, renewable source of carbon and the know-how to turn it into a high-performance battery material. Sodium-ion batteries are one of the most promising frontiers in energy storage, with the market projected to more than triple by 2030,” says Dr Einar Karu, VP of Partnerships at UP Catalyst. The collaboration highlights how renewable carbon from wood can move through a new value chain, from forest biomass to advanced materials that support the energy transition. The Fibenol and UP Catalyst team 2026 © Fibenol Source Fibenol, press release, 2026-04-14. Supplier Fibenol UP Catalyst Share Renewable Carbon News – Daily Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email newsletter – the world's leading newsletter on renewable materials and chemicals Subscribe