iX Challenge: CO2 Electrolysis

Challenge

To expand MVM’s carbon capture and utilisation efforts, where storage is geographically unfeasible, carbon dioxide emissions must be used in an alternative process in which CO2 is transformed into value-added products or intermediate substances for the chemical industry.

MVM generates significant flue gas in their operations and does not always have solutions for long-term storage, therefore CO2 utilisation will form a key part of the organisation’s journey to net zero.

MVM are interested in the use of their generated high purity CO2 as a feedstock chemical,  converting the waste into higher value-added products using electrolysis.

Rewards & Benefits

Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to pitch to MVM.  Applicants selected by MVM can expect to work closely together with MVM and their partners to advance the TRL of the solution, and may have opportunities for pilot testing at MVM facilities.

Selected applicants may be able to work with MVM to seek European innovation funding such as Horizon Europe.

The package may also include:

• Support from KTN
• Technical support
• Invitation to attend or present at KTN events
• A potential business collaboration
• Investor introductions (if investment is required)
• Support if any Innovate or similar competitions are relevant.

Functional Requirements

An ideal potential location for the unit would be at the Mátra Power Plant’s industrial zone, where large volumes of pure CO2 will be available from 2027 Q3 onwards. Preliminary tests, system optimization and scale-up can be carried out on-site using alternative CO2 sources running up to 2027, after which the site will be more than capable of providing the necessary CO2 raw material for the electrolysis.

For the initial proof of concept phase a smaller approx. <10 kW system would suffice, however, from 2027 onwards, in case the preliminary tests and scale-up steps are successful, 50-250 kW or even larger systems can be installed.

Technical Requirements

Solutions submitted to this competition should:

• Be capable of effectively converting CO2 to higher-value products or feedstock chemicals.
• Maintain high activity for conversion over an extended lifetime.

Eligibility

Innovations submitted to this competition should be at TRL 3 or above. This technology is being considered with long time horizons, therefore it is expected that there will be significant collaboration between selected applicants and MVM to progress the technology through higher TRLs.

Entrants to this competition must be established businesses, academia, startups, SMEs or individual entrepreneurs, and be UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base.