HyCARB - New technologies for sustainable carbon chemistry

HyCARB began in March 2026 and runs until end2029. During this period, the consortium will work towards innovative, sustainable technologies that are efficient, flexible and robust, ready for further development towards demonstration and industrial application.

Sustainable and cost efficient routes

HyCARB develops sustainable, cost efficient routes for carbon chemistry so that the sector can decarbonise and become circular, while maintaining a strong position in Europe and worldwide. In addition to technology development, HyCARB invests in education and talent development, training the next generation of researchers and engineers in green chemistry so they can further develop and implement the results after 2029.

Technological focus: from CO₂ to useful molecules

HyCARB investigates multiple technologies to convert CO₂ into useful chemicals and fuels. The main tracks include:

• Green hydrogen routes for the synthesis of carboncontaining products;
• Electrochemical conversion powered by renewable electricity;
• Electrification of chemical process steps, including electric heating as an alternative to fossil heat;
• Combined pathways integrating the above technologies for maximum system performance.

Broad approach: thermal and electrochemical routes in one programme

A defining feature of HyCARB is the parallel development and comparison of thermal and electrochemical CO₂-conversion routes within one largescale project. This broad, comparative approach makes it possible to assess technological options for efficiency, flexibility and robustness, and to accelerate the most promising pathways.

Operational challenges: variable renewable energy

A central challenge is operating at scale under noncontinuous supply of renewable energy (e.g. solar). HyCARB therefore pays explicit attention to the stability and degradation of prototypes and pilot systems, and to dynamic operation of processes at industrially relevant scale.

HyCARB coordination and governance

HyCARB brings together 45 organisations: 17 knowledge institutions and 28 companies.

TNO provides overall project coordination: programme steering and planning across the full fiveyear trajectory; alignment with all 45 partners; governance and reporting to funding bodies; and ensuring coherence between the technology lines (green hydrogen, electrochemical conversion and electrification of process steps).

Utrecht University and Eindhoven University of Technology provide joint technical coordination. They lead the contentfocused work packages, harmonise methods and measurement protocols, safeguard comparability of results across thermal and electrochemical routes (including combinations), and translate lab and pilotscale outcomes into systemlevel performance (efficiency, flexibility, robustness) under variable renewable supply. They also support prototype and pilot design choices, including degradation/stability analysis and the setup of route comparisons that form the basis for subsequent scaleup.

HyCARB is supported by GroenvermogenNL and NWO. The breadth of the consortium ensures coverage from fundamental research through to industrially relevant validation.