REMAGHIC is focused on contributing to Europe’s rare earth recovery and magnesium recycling technologies, improving the efficiencies of these processes and advancing the technology readiness levels for a new generation of industrial processes that will produce new low cost competitive alloys for a wide variety of sectors across Europe’s manufacturing value chain. The project motivation lies on the fact that magnesium alloys can offer a significant weight reduction when compared to aluminium alloys. weight reduction is a cross sectorial key design driver, if a superior energy absorption and vibratory behaviour is added, magnesium is promising candidate for future application if some of its drawbacks are overcome, such as its cost, manufacturability problems, corrosion and creep behaviour and low allowable service temperature. Addition of Rare Earth Elements (REE) improves the performance of Mg alloys significantly, though a price increase has to be taken into account. REMAGHIC believes that by investing in recovery and recycling technologies, a new alloying process can be developed to yield low cost Mg+REE alloys. In order to do this, REE that are usually stockpiled (Ce, La) in favour of the most demanded ones (Nd, Dy) will be considered as attractive candidates to lower the price. This list of REE will be completed by other promising candidates found in the literature (Y, Gd, Sa). The project will contribute to reducing the dependency of the supply of critical elements (REE and Mg) on sources exterior to the EU and to solving the REE Balance Problem. REMAGHIC will contribute to the penetration of magnesium alloys in important sectors for the European industry (Transport, Energy, Biomedicine); it will foster the work done by Tier1s, and promote the interest of different OEMs on future generations of light structural components of competitive performance (that of primary Mg+REE alloys), low cost (that of primary Mg) and weight reduction (30%).

ESTELLA is an ambitious initiative that proposes an innovative solution to improve the recyclability of low-recyclable materials: thermosetting composites. To this end, ESTELLA will work on the design of novel bio-based epoxy resins with inherent recyclability capabilities thanks to the introduction of Covalent Adaptive Network (CAN) in the original epoxy structure. CAN will provide the thermosetting epoxy resin with the ability to respond to certain stimulus that changes the state of its microstructure and thus, the ability to be reprocessed/re-polymerized (return to original monomers and fibres). A similar strategy will be applied to existing fossil-based epoxy formulations. In this way, the thermoset can be reprocessed or re-polymerized into new products and the fibres can be recovered as well. In addition, fibres of renewable origin will be used as reinforcement to manufacturing thermoset composites. ESTELLA research will address recycling techniques of any nature (chemical, biological and mechanical) to guarantee that the materials developed during the project can be successfully separated into their components in a safe and cost-effective way, hence maximizing the revenue of recycling activities. The validation of the developed recyclable materials will be carried out through economically and environmentally efficient manufacture processes (out-of-autoclave). Thus, new bio-composites will be designed and developed based on the premises of improving recyclability while meeting the demands of different sectors such as construction and leisure/mobility. Also, extensive work will be carried out to leverage the industrial application of the technologies and materials developed, taking into account safety, techno-economic, regulatory and intellectual property aspects.

The main objective of the Sea4Volt project is the development of a novel low temperature Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyser concept, able to operate efficiently, selectively, and durably with a direct seawater feed under a slight pH-gradient. Reaching this will require identifying and developing new suitable materials (catalysts, membrane, coatings, porous transport layers, bipolar plates, sealings), as well as novel electrolyser design options. The Sea4Volt will develop and demonstrate a direct seawater electrolyser prototype with novel materials/components and membrane/ionomers to reach effective high-performing and corrosion-resistant seawater electrolysis system. Results of in-operation tests will be published in public deliverables, workshops, and conferences, making it possible for the partners outside of Sea4Volt consortium to exploit leading to a wider impact throughout the European electrolyzer and fuel cell industry. The choice of the newly emerged AEM technology proposed in this project, on one hand, emphasises the extensive innovative technological impact exhibited in the implementation of novel non-CRM materials, PFAS-free anion exchange membranes and ionomers, new electrode designs and protective coatings. On the other hand, the intrinsic cost-effectiveness of the AEM technology, embedded in utilization of low-cost materials, is expected to provide further cost reductions to such an offshore electrolyser system, and will result to anticipated lower cost of green hydrogen production. The technology enabling the generation of green hydrogen directly from seawater holds immense societal-wide impacts. Shift towards green hydrogen production could also stimulate economic growth through the creation of new industries and job opportunities, particularly in regions with abundant seawater resources. Sea4Volt is also being targeted in the areas characterised with deficit of fresh water especially in underdeveloped regions around the globe.