Cloning design - 4C_FUELS

Sustainability

4C_Fuels was conceived as a sustainability-based project. With our ideas, designs and people we want to be part of the accelerated drive for change needed in our society. We firmly believe that a sustainable society is conceivable, and with this project we wanted to offer solutions towards it. In this page you will find out how our project aims to contribute to sustainability, providing new ideas that will bring us closer to a better society.

Sustainability: A Holistic Perspective

According to the Spanish renewable energy company Acciona, the term ‘Sustainability’ means ‘to fulfill today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs’. How? Not giving up any of the three main pillars that define global sustainability: environmental protection, economic viability and social development.

These three main pillars can be represented as interrelated circles that intersect in the middle where global sustainability lies. Sustainable development must take into account these three dimensions, which we have taken into account throughout the entire 4C_Fuels project.

Environmental Sustainability

Environmental Sustainability aims to maintain and sustain the quality of our planet, meaning to conserve natural resources and protect global ecosystems for the benefit and wellbeing of the Earth and humanity. As environmental effects take time to arise, it is needed to take a long-term approach so that new generations’ needs are not compromised.

In 4C_Fuels, we want to develop a sustainable phototrophic-based production platform, so that we can produce materials or energy in a renewable way. Our whole project idea is based on this concept. We want to demonstrate that alternative ways of production can be a reality. Our technology is thought to mimic natural processes, looking to generate as little environmental impact as possible. Little ideas today can pave the road for big changes tomorrow.

Economic Sustainability

Economic sustainability refers to the ability of companies and enterprises to implement practices that support long-term economic growth without compromising the environment or culture. Despite most companies being aware of this concept, they do not achieve this goal. Economic sustainability should align benefits for the planet and the people.

Nowadays, it is usually cheaper to buy the product that has a worse impact on the environment than the equivalent product that does less harm. A higher price to the planet does not translate to a higher price on the consumer. But what if the lowest-priced product was the one causing the least harm to society and the environment?

At 4C_Fuels we aim to develop solutions not only sustainable but also economically viable. Some of our strategies are designed to solve cost problems that currently lag the biorefinery industry. By providing cost effective solutions we want to boost the photosynthetic-based market, which is currently struggling due to high investment and operational costs.

Social Sustainability

Economic sustainability refers to the ability of companies and enterprises to implement practices that support long-term economic growth without compromising the environment or culture. Despite most companies being aware of this concept, they do not achieve this goal. Economic sustainability should align benefits for the planet and the people.
Nowadays, it is usually cheaper to buy the product that has a worse impact on the environment than the equivalent product that does less harm. A higher price to the planet does not translate to a higher price on the consumer. But what if the lowest-priced product was the one causing the least harm to society and the environment?
At 4C_Fuels we aim to develop solutions not only sustainable but also economically viable. Some of our strategies are designed to solve cost problems that currently lag the biorefinery industry. By providing cost effective solutions we want to boost the photosynthetic-based market, which is currently struggling due to high investment and operational costs.

Sustainable Development Goals

At 4C_Fuels, we are committed to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) announced by the United Nations as part of The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Also called Global Goals, they are a call for all individuals, companies and institutions across all countries to take action and tackle today’s greater problems as a society. The 17 SDGs, together with their 169 targets balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental sustainability .SDGs seek to benefit people without compromising our planet, and so do we.

We can all leave a mark in this world and contribute to the SDGs

Goal 7: Affordable, sustainable and clean energy for all

There is no way our planet can sustain relying further on energy produced from fossil fuels, this is why renewable energy solutions have to become the desired option nowadays while they are improved to be cheaper and more efficient. We need to change the way we consume and produce energy.

4C_Fuels aims to serve as an example of alternative solutions to fight for climate change, as we provide with the technology to produce biofuels from natural resources that would be considered renewable, as the CO2 that is captured by our cyanobacteria would compensate or even overcome what would be emitted from its use.

Our contributions for Goal 7 are:

Propose alternative solutions to rely less on fossil-fuels minimizing the drawbacks of the fast decarbonization our society needs to face. We have promoted social awareness in this topic and urged institutions to subsidize more renewable energy and industrial infrastructure related projects.
Encouraging public and private investment in clean energy technologies research. With the development of our project and our communication campaings we aim to create awareness about the our need to achieve a higher rate of energy efficiency and increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Provide technology that is both cheap and efficient, that is easy to install in already operating systems and that can add up to the energy produced, also in developing countries, which will allow for universal access to affordable, reliable and more modern energy services worldwide. In this aim, 4C_Fuels technology could become a solution for energy supply for thos applications that could not be electrified in the near future.

Goal 9: Resilient and inclusive infrastructure, industralization and innovation

The bottom line of a comfortable society lies within the environment around it and the relationship between the people and the infrastructure utilized by them. This is why there is a need for resilient infrastructure, where space and time are taken into consideration with the focus of well-being and opportunities for all. Equity and affordability of spaces and infrastructure with a need for sustainable development of materials and their uses, could foster an inclusive industrialization if done correctly. The aim is to provide access to basic goods and services at a fair price for all and this can only be done if innovation is boosted.

In the XXI century, access to information and new technologies is considered essential for life. Access to commodities, energy and food needs complex production processes which, if optimized and evaluated in order to operate at their lowest emission rates, could benefit communities and lower the products’ final prices. We at 4C_Fuels believe in a sustainable solution to produce biofuels in order to create a better world. New trends in industry will surely create a more sense of community towards a common goal, create fair new jobs with a purpose and it will bring prosperity and stability across the globe.

Our contributions to achieve Goal 9 are:

Designing the concept of a sustainabe technology which could be either implemented within current industrial facilities, or deployed in new installations. We have carefully shaped our technological design by speaking with experts in the field for each part of the process.
Support and promote scientific research and innovation. From the very beginning in 4C_FUels we have bet to weave interdisciplinary networks of researchers, industry workers, academics and students. Our aim is to strength our abilities to overcome the complex challenges we face by combining the best of each discipline. THe first step for this is to promote contact between experts in many different fields.
The design of 4C_Fuels technologies promotes both local production and consumption of goods and services, as well as sustainable transportation and fair trade for international commerce. SInce the required materials are widely available worldwide, this technology has the potential to become a decentralized biomanufacturing platform.
Eventually, we consider social sustainability a priority. We aim to promote fair job conditions and salaries, increase the rate of equal gender employment in the sector and in turn and increasing gross domestic product. A bio-based technology like the propoed by 4C_Fuels could become an economic driver for the development of rural areas and small communities, specially within development countries. Since the high availability in surface, sunlight and water are crucial aspects for a photosynthetic biomanufacturing technology.

Goal 13: Urgent action to combat climate change

Climate change affects all countries equally and there is no planet B. Without our planet, there is no future. This is a crucial moment in history when we are still in charge of reversing the harm the human race has inflicted towards the Earth. The consequences are we are the ones who broke our planet but also the ones who have to bring it back. It has not been unnoticed: all the extreme weather conditions and natural disasters such as the latest terrible droughts or hailstorms, the loss of endangered species and the excessive CO2 emissions are some of the visible effects of this climate crisis we really want to avoid further. As we can see, climate change is real and it is a threat to humanity if nothing is done, as the consequences can be even more catastrophic unless we act now.

Our idea for this project came to our mind as we were looking for alternatives to carbon capture from the atmosphere, and thanks to our cyano friends, we are capable of doing so and transforming what it can be considered as a damaging compound into a product with added value, which in fact can be used as a biofuel to power other mechanisms.

Our contributions as part of Goal 13 are:

We consider that Investment is needed to push for innovation and sustainable development. This way, allowing companies to do businesses in sustainability can contribute to the fight against climate change. We have taken part in a bussiness hackathons with our project idea, and spoke with relevant stakeholders within the biotech and fuels sector. Our aim with this meetings was double: first finding funds for our project and secondly raising interest about the potential of biotechnology for sustainable development.
Developing a thoughtful scientific communication and education campaing, we have first identified the awareness about climate change and sustainability. Then, we have performed communication & educational activities in order to generate social awareness about this crucial topic.
Considering the agreements set by the EU and the regional government in terms of sustainability and environmental protection during the design of our project.
Providing an alternative for green and sustainable transportion, which accounts for up to 24% of global carbon dioxide emissions. We have maily focused on offering al alternative for thos transportation media which could not be electrified in the near future.

4C_Fuels Project aims to contribute in sustainable development!

References

Team:MADRID UCM/Sustainable