The GAIA project, a pioneer in the production of biofuels from CO2 and wastewater, has successfully concluded.

After three years of research, the GAIA project has come to an end with promising results that represent a significant advance in the production of sustainable biofuels, such as biomethane and butanol, from renewable resources such as CO₂.₂ and wastewater. This technological development is based on microbial bioelectroconversion, a process in which special microorganisms convert electrical energy into chemical energy through biochemical reactions. This process allows microbes to generate fuels from compounds that would otherwise be discarded or become pollutants. In this way, both the design and operation of bioelectrochemical systems are optimized, positioning this technology as a promising option in the fight for decarbonization and the circular economy.

The project, led by a multidisciplinary consortium that includes FacsaThe Leitat Technology Centre and the University of Girona have identified the best operating conditions and materials for building efficient reactors. These advances improve process productivity and reduce production costs, bringing GAIA technology closer to potential commercialization in the future.

In this regard, one of the project's most significant milestones has been the design of a pilot-scale cell, which will serve as a basis for future research in real-world environments, such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This development will allow these facilities to be transformed into true biorefineries, enhancing their role in sustainable energy production and their contribution to decarbonization.

The techno-economic analysis carried out during the project has revealed the best scenarios for implementing GAIA technology in urban wastewater treatment plants, taking advantage of wastewater and CO2 flows₂ to generate biofuels efficiently and sustainably.

Funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Union through the NextGenerationEU funds, the GAIA project sets out a clear roadmap for the future implementation of this technology, with the aim of creating new business opportunities and promoting a more environmentally friendly society.

Project PLEC2021-007802 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/ PRTR