Research project corresponding to the call 2023 and reference PID2023-150955OB-C33, for grants for «Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento».

In the search for energy independence and net zero carbon emissions, governments are forced to reevaluate energy producing technologies. In this scenario, microorganisms are believed to play a crucial role in the production of alternative bioenergy sources to boost the transition to a circular economy.

Methane is an energy vector that can be produced by anaerobic bacteria and it may be used as a renewable fuel for transport, for power generation, or for heating. On the other hand, sustainable aviation (SAF) fuels are green, non conventional alternatives to fossil-based jet fuels that can be biotechnologically produced from different precursors (e.g. ethanol, butanol, fatty acids) synthetized by bacteria and/or yeast. As other gaseous and liquid biofuels production, methane and SAF rely on the use of food sources or agricultural materials resulting and an important food-energy dilemma. To circumvent this limitation, BIONIC project aims at the conversion of high ionic strength streams (such as sweet molasses, whey or dairy stream, brine, etc.) into biofuels.

For the efficient bioconversion of challenging waste streams, such as the ones in BIONIC, involved microorganisms must be carefully adapted to the inherent harsh feedstock. In this context, CEL_BIONIC project will aim at the obtaining of robust microbiomes and single strains to maximize the conversion of these residues into methane and SAF precursors.

Partners: Universty of Valladolid (Coordinator); CIEMAT; IMDEA Energy Institute

Funding Institution/Program: Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities / FEDER-UE / Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2023

Period: September 2024-August 2027

IMDEA Energy Institute external funding: 187.500 €

IP IMDEA Energy: Dr. Elia Tomás