BIOPYRANIA

• Develop safe and sustainable processes for the creation of bio-based building blocks starting from second-generation biomass of European origin, addressing challenges in sourcing and production efficiency.
• Develop new bio-based polymer types - polyamides and polybenzimidazoles - using safe and sustainable processes.
• Overcome limitations in existing materials with novel pyrazine-based building blocks.
• Develop polymeric materials and blends tailored to end-user requirements, addressing challenges in stability, conductivity, and durability.
• Develop and improve safe and sustainable mechanical and hydrothermal recycling processes of bio-based polymer products, aiming to increase the share of recycled material in total plastic production and improve the quality of recycled plastic.
• Process design towards pilot scale production, starting with converting woody biomass into sugars and fermenting amino acids, focusing on safety and ensuring minimal environmental impact.

The BIOPYRANIA project targets significant economic, technical, societal, environmental, and scientific impacts, such as:

• Making available a broader range of (up to 100%) bio-based products with properties comparable to fossil-based alternatives, meeting market requirements.
• Establishing at least two new bio-based value chains using sustainable feedstock (2G biomass) for the production of electric vehicles and electrolysers and fuel cells.
• Validating two new bio-based polymers (PA and PBI) on the demonstrator scale.
• Improving sustainability, safety, and circularity when compared to fossil-based or bio-based state-of-the-art benchmarks, with an expected replacement of fossil-fuel-based membrane with a bio-based one in a Hydrolite product by 2030.
• Unlocking new applications currently not covered by bio-based polymers.
• Showcasing a promising product and process performance for reference applications in view of subsequent upscaling.
• Maximising the use of regional agricultural resources and decreasing dependence on the import of speciality polymers while also increasing the added value to the European economy.
• Accelerating hydrogen production to meet the goal of 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen production by 2030.
• Increasing electrolyser production a total annual capacity of 17.5 GW in Europe by 2025.
• Improving environmental performance across the value chain, exceeding the fossil- and bio-based benchmarks.
• Enhancing circularity and resource efficiency through the practical application of the circular bioeconomy concept.
• Reducing the greenhouse gasses emissions of the production process by 50% using 2G biomass exclusively sourced in Europe as a renewable feedstock .
• Replacing toxic solvents with green alternatives while also achieving zero waste target.
• Improving the EU’s innovation capacity and knowledge integration by training highly skilled workforce and sharing know-how.
• Creating approximately 70 new jobs.