Partners
The SUNLIQUID Consortium
Under the coordination of Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, five other companies and research institutes from Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania are participating in SUNLIQUID.
Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Germany
Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH is a member of the Clariant Group. Clariant is a globally leading specialty chemicals company, based in Muttenz near Basel/Switzerland. On 31 December 2019 the company employed a total workforce of over 17.000. In the financial year 2019, Clariant recorded sales of CHF 4.399 billion for its continuing businesses. The company reports in four business areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis, Natural Resources, and Plastics & Coatings. Clariant’s corporate strategy is based on five pillars: focus on innovation through R&D, add value with sustainability, reposition portfolio, intensify growth, and increase profitability.
Within Clariant’s Group Biotechnology the sunliquid® process was developed which uses chemical-free pre-treatment, on-site process integrated enzymatic hydrolysis followed by conversion of both C5 & C6 fermentation to efficiently and sustainably produce cellulosic sugars and ethanol from agricultural residues such as straw, corn stover or sugarcane bagasse. The Business Line Biofuels & Derivatives, which is part of Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, focuses on the commercialization of bio-ethanol, licenses and enzymes and the promotion of the sunliquid® technology.
Main tasks in the project
- Overall project coordination
- Evaluation and definition of the construction site
- Responsibility for Basic Engineering and Detailed Engineering
Clariant Products Ro SRL, Romania
Clariant Products Ro SRL is a newly formed Clariant affiliate. It is one of the owners and operators of the sunliquid® commercial-scale plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol in Romania. Herein, the responsibility of Clariant Products Ro SRL lies in the supply and logistics of the feedstock and the conversion of the raw material to lignocellulosic sugars.
Main tasks in the project
- Implementation of the supply and logistic value chain of the raw material
- Equipment procurement and construction of the plant
- Commissioning and ramp-up of the plant
ExportHungary, Hungary
ExportHungary Kft. is a private company (SME) based in Budapest. Its main objective is to develop international business and cooperation relations between Hungarian companies and international markets. Export Hungary also cooperates with international companies to support them in trading, investment and development cooperation with Hungary.
Main tasks in the project
- Market research in feedstock availability in the defined areas
- Development of a feedstock supply strategy
- Identification of and negotiations with possible feedstock suppliers
- Development of a contracting system
Energy Institute at the Johannes Kepler University Linz (EI-JKU), Austria
The Energy Institute offers specialist expertise whenever multidisciplinary knowledge of more than one scientific field is essential for energy-related research topics. The EI’s three departments cover Energy Economics, Energy Law and Energy Technologies. The combination of these core disciplines allows comprehensive analyses and accounts for all aspects of future-oriented energy topics. The EI-JKU analyses the economic effects of questions regarding energy-related policy, discusses the most recent developments in the European energy legislation and evaluate strategies for CO2 mitigation as well as measures aimed at promoting energy-efficiency goals. Apart from highly distinguished research in various (inter-)national projects, the practical applicability of its results is a key focus of the Energy Institute.
Main tasks in the project
The Energy Institute is quantifying the maximum greenhouse gas mitigation potential according to the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED) by life cycle assessment (LCA). Additionally, potential socio-economic impacts of establishing an advanced biofuel market are analyzed resulting in a combined process assessment including environmental, economic and societal aspects for the flagship plant realisation resulting in a sustainable product performance and market-uptake.
Industrielle Biotechnologie Bayern Netzwerk GmbH (IBB), Germany
IBB Netzwerk GmbH is a network and service organization in the field of Industrial Biotechnology and sustainable economy. The aim is to catalyze the conversion of valuable scientific knowledge into innovative, marketable biotechnological products and processes. IBB Netzwerk GmbH manages an interdisciplinary competence network as well as several topic-oriented subnetworks. IBB supports the network in all matters of technology transfer and public affairs, promotes the visibility of the network members and seeks the dialogue with policy and decision makers. The basis of its work is cross-linking partners between and beyond branches and sectors for the benefit of knowledge and technology transfer, e.g. by elaborating and supporting joint R&D projects.
Main tasks in the project
- Achievement of project goals and communication of project results via events, e.g. PR outreach to farmers, policy and industrial workshops, parliamentary evenings, plant tours, progress conference and the final conference
- Promoting participation and presentation of the project’s objectives at conferences, workshops, trade shows
- Identification of stakeholders and involvement in corresponding activities
- Conduction of a market survey to measure the general public’s level of awareness of 2G bioethanol in Europe and adaption of country specific PR activities
- Organization of consortium meetings (kick-off and ensuing meetings)
Bavarian Research Alliance GmbH (BayFOR), Germany
The Bavarian Research Alliance GmbH (BayFOR) is a private company founded in 2006 to support Bavaria as a centre for science and innovation within the European Research Area. To achieve this, BayFOR supports and advises Bavarian scientists and stakeholders from the private sector in the competition for regional, national and European research, development and innovation funds. Our focus lies on Horizon 2020. BayFOR’s scientific experts provide subject-specific information and offer strategic advice and active support for initiating projects, setting up international research consortia and submitting proposal applications. Upon successful evaluation, BayFOR is able to provide support during project implementation and if required it provides support with project management and takes over dissemination tasks throughout the project duration. It is a partner institution in the Bavarian “Bavarian Research and Innovation Agency”.
Main tasks in the project
- Dissemination activities
- Creation of a corporate design and a project logo for dissemination activities
- Development of target group-specific dissemination material (flyer, roll-up, factsheets, etc.)
- Set-up and maintenance of digital communication channels (project website, e-newsletters)
- Ongoing public relations and press activities
- Information on additional funding support for the whole consortium