Project: 101046307 — CATCHER — HORIZON-EIC-2021-PATHFINDEROPEN-01

Creation of innovative “humidity to electricity” renewable energy conversion technology towards sustainable energy challenge

Coordinator: Svitlana Lyubchyk, Andriy Lyubchyk
Starting/Ending date: 01 April, 2022- 30 March, 2026
Duration: 48 months

Partners

• COFAC COOPERATIVA DE FORMAÇÃO E ANIMAÇÃO CULTURAL CRL (ULusofona), Portugal
• ECOLE ROYALE MILITAIRE – KONINKLIJKE MILITAIRE SCHOOL (RMA), Belgium/li>
• SME CASCATACHUVA LDA (CASCATA), Portugal
• SME NANOMATERIALS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SP. Z.O.O (NRD), Poland
• SME NANOTECHCENTER LLC (NANOTECHCENTER), Ukraine
• SME SYNYO GmbH (SYNYO), Austria
• SME LAVOLA 1981 SAU (ANTHESIS LAVOLA), Spain

Summary

CATCHER project is aimed at development of innovative technology to exploit the atmospheric humidity for direct conversion to the electricity, thus gain a new sustainable source of renewable energy and to contribute to implementing the specific priorities for strengthening the EU leadership on renewables. The successful realization of the project is assured by implementation of knowledge sharing in material science, physics, nanoelectronics, green chemistry, nanoengineering, sustainability and research marketing via international and intersectorial collaboration of highly qualified research and business from Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Spain and Ukraine.

Up to date we developed the theoretical basis for the “humidity to electricity” conversion mechanism, delivered proof of the concept and elaborated the first-generation converter Prototype - advanced “humidity to electricity” converter within accomplished 2016-2019 H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015 HUNTER project; attested and further patented [PCT/UA2019/000147] in 2020.

Project is targeted on advancement, optimization and scalability of a previously developed technology that converts atmospheric humidity into electrical current [up to date value of 3.6 mW/g or 1.82 mW/cm2], with an expected output power density of ~36 mW/g or [15 – 20 mW/ cm2], which will be ready for scaling up, thus could be prepared for further integration with existed EU electrical system for general energy use. The proposed solution is expected to contribute to implementing the specific priorities for strengthening the EU leadership on renewables laid out in the Communication for Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation.

Sharing the culture of research and innovation, the CATCHER project will allow applying recent advancements in nanotechnology science and engineering to address DIRECTIVE (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) and EU Re-thinking 2050 strategy.