Thanks to expert support from Spinverse, the GlyCO2Chem project consortium led by Gefn ehf. from Iceland has secured €2.7 million in funding from the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) under Horizon Europe. The initiative aims to transform industrial by-products into high-value sustainable chemicals whilst reducing carbon emissions and creating new value chains for the green economy.
Addressing the carbon challenge in industry
Every year, industries across Europe generate millions of tonnes of by-products such as CO₂ and crude glycerol, much of which is released as waste or underutilised. The GlyCO2Chem project aims to turn this challenge into an opportunity by developing new ways to capture CO₂ and convert it, together with waste glycerol, into glycerol carbonate, a versatile, eco-friendly chemical with uses in batteries, fuels and beyond.
Building a circular economy for chemicals
The vision of the GlyCO2Chem project is to demonstrate a fully integrated, energy-efficient process that captures CO₂ from a variety of sources such as biogas plants and even directly from the air, and couple it with leftover glycerol from biodiesel production. The result is glycerol carbonate, a safer and more sustainable alternative to fossil-based chemicals. This process reduces emissions and creates valuable products for the energy storage and transportation sectors, such as greener battery electrolytes and fuel additives. By validating the entire value chain from CO₂ capture to end-use, GlyCO2Chem aims for large-scale industrial adoption.
International collaboration driving innovation
Led by an Icelandic startup Gefn ehf., GlyCO2Chem brings together nine partners from five European countries, including industry leaders, research institutes and universities. The combined expertise of the consortium covers the full value chain from carbon capture technology to chemical production and application development. The three-year project was kicked off at the end of 2025 and aims to deliver scalable solutions that will accelerate the transition to a circular, low-carbon economy.
Spinverse’s role in shaping the winning proposal
Spinverse played a key role in bringing the GlyCO2Chem project to life, supporting everything from early concept development to building the right consortium and writing the successful project proposal together with the consortium. Spinverse experts in sustainable chemistry, carbon capture and public funding worked closely with the consortium to ensure that the project’s vision, impact and execution plan stood out in the competitive CETP funding call.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Ásgeir Ívarsson, CEO and Founder of Gefn says:
We were impressed by Spinverse’s ability to understand our technology and connect us with the ideal partners across Europe. Their structured approach and deep knowledge of public funding made all the difference in preparing a successful proposal. I would absolutely recommend Spinverse to any organisation looking to build ambitious, collaborative projects.
Spinverse’s team ensured that all aspects of the project from technical objectives to impact and dissemination, were clearly articulated and aligned with the funder’s goals, increasing GlyCO2Chem’s chances of success.
From waste to wealth: a vision for impact
By finding new ways to valorise industrial by-products, GlyCO2Chem aims to boost the circular economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create new markets for sustainable chemicals in Europe and beyond. The project’s outcomes will benefit industries and the environment alike as well as demonstrate how cross-border collaboration and expert guidance can turn innovative ideas into real-world impact.
Would you like to learn how Spinverse can help you with your CETP projects? Get in touch with us.
Miguel Lopes
Senior Consultant, M. Sc. (Civil eng.), Ph.D. (Mech. eng.)
miguel.lopes@spinverse.com
+358 50 401 0015