SeaO2, in collaboration with TU Delft, University of Twente, and NERA, has secured nearly $2 million (€1.64 million) in funding from the TKI Energy and Industry program for an innovative water-to-e-SAF initiative.
The funding will support a new project that will work to develop a decentralized and fully integrated process for generating sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) from seawater, renewable electricity, and captured carbon dioxide.
Based in Amsterdam, SeaO2 specializes in Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology that extracts carbon from seawater via an electrochemical system, returning the filtered, CO2-free water back to the ocean where it will continue absorbing atmospheric emissions.
In the new water-to-e-SAF project, SeaO2 and its partnering organizations will combine their expertise in carbon dioxide capture, electrochemical conversion, and advanced catalysis, hoping to deliver next-gen e-fuels that won’t rely on biomass or fossil feedstock and can be produced locally.
To ensure the step-by-step practicality and safety of this initiative, the development of the novel project is structured around four key areas.
Phase 1 will serve to clarify the feasibility and design of the ambitious project, where the partnering organizations will work on defining use cases, as well as requirements and technical criteria for establishing a viable water-to-e-SAF pathway.
In the following phase, activities will center around advancing and refining SeaO2’s electrochemical technology that will be used to efficiently extract carbon dioxide from seawater, as well as ultrapure water to be used for hydrogen production.
Relevant: Dutch Startup SeaO2 Secures Over $2M In Seed Funding For Its Direct Ocean Capture Tech
During Phase 3, the project will test and customize steps for turning captured CO2 into alcohols and olefins—two materials that are vital components for the production of sustainable aviation fuel. For the needs of the project, the team of developers will use innovative reactor designs and catalysts.
Lastly, in the final phase of development, the project will undergo a techno-economic analysis, where the team will assess the integrated water-to-e-SAF process, evaluating it against traditionally used kerosene to determine the cost-effectiveness and scalability of this approach.
Read more: Isometric Starts Public Consultation On Its New Protocol For Direct Ocean Capture & Storage (DOCS)
