expected impacts
The MECALO project is poised to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy by developing innovative, carbon-neutral methods for producing critical raw materials as silicon and manganese. Both materials are essential for a wide range of industries, including renewable energy, electronics, construction and transportation. Despite strong demand and the critical and strategic use of Si and Mn, Europe is still lagging behind in the supply of these CRMs.
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There is an urgent need to bring Europe onto the international stage when it comes to producing these CRMs and that is what Mecalo aspires to.

Environmental and Societal Impact
MECALO will directly contribute to the EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050 through its innovative use of renewable hydrogen and carbon looping technologies. By eliminating the need for fossil carbon in metal production, the project aims to significantly reduce CO2 emissions associated with the production of Si and Mn. MECALO also supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including sustainable industrialization (SDG 9) and climate action (SDG 13). The project will foster cross-sectoral collaboration, reinforcing societal efforts towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly industrial landscape.

Technological and Scientific Impact
The project is at the forefront of technological innovation, combining advanced chemistry, catalysis, metallurgy and digital technologies to develop CO2-free metal production processes. The project will generate valuable new knowledge on renewable hydrogen and carbon looping, which will be shared with the scientific community, potentially inspiring further research in hard-to-abate sectors. This includes inspiring the exploration of new applications for biogenic carbon and investigating additional carbon looping processes, such as those related to cement production The project’s findings will contribute to academic research, with anticipated publications and conference presentations advancing the field of sustainable metallurgy and catalysis.

Economic Impact
MECALO will accelerate the development of carbon-neutral critical raw materials by creating new European value chains for metal production. The project’s aforementioned technologies will help establish a clean, resilient, and sustainable metallurgical industry in Europe. By reducing dependence on imported CRMs and fostering domestic production, MECALO will enhance Europe’s industrial competitiveness and economic resilience. The project’s commercial exploitation roadmaps foresee the deployment of multiple plants across Europe by 2040, significantly contributing to the EU’s industrial and economic growth.

Human Capital Development and Knowledge Dissemination
The project will create new opportunities for experienced engineers, researchers and recent graduates, providing them with hands-on experience in cutting-edge technologies such as methanation, methane plasmalysis and renewable hydrogen utilization and work on transforming the metal producing from using fossil carbon to re-using carbon. High-quality training provided through the project will ensure that these professionals remain at the forefront of the green transition. Additionally, MECALO is committed to promoting open access to research data and scientific publications, ensuring that the knowledge generated is widely disseminated and contributes to further advancements in the field.