Federal support to accelerate innovation
WasteOlas has reached a new milestone in the development of its CO₂ capture and utilization technology: the Swiss Confederation, through the agency Innosuisse, has awarded an Innovation Grant to the research project being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ricardo Lima’s laboratory at the Geneva School of Landscape, Engineering, and Architecture (HEPIA).
This funding, which is reserved for Swiss startups and SMEs seeking to collaborate with an accredited research partner, validates the scientific merit and innovation potential of the project led by WasteOlas.
A research project at the intersection of thermodynamics and the circular economy
The project, designated as INNO-ENG 136.461, is titled :
« Feasibility of cold expansion energy recovery for CO₂ purification in brewery CCU (Carbon Capture & Utilisation) systems »
Specifically, the aim is to investigate the feasibility of recovering energy from the expansion of compressed CO₂ to purify the gas in carbon capture and utilization (CCU) systems applied to the brewing industry. In other words: how can the thermodynamic energy released during the expansion of compressed CO₂ be harnessed to improve the quality and energy efficiency of the purification process?
Cette question est centrale pour WasteOlas, dont la technologie — déjà déployée en projet pilote à la Brasserie Docteur Gab’s à Puidoux (VD) — capture le CO₂ issu de la fermentation de la bière afin de le réinjecter dans le processus de production. L’optimisation de l’étape de purification représente un levier clé pour améliorer à la fois la qualité du CO₂ recyclé, le rendement énergétique global du système et, in fine, sa viabilité économique à grande échelle.
HEPIA: A Leading Academic Partner
The choice of HEPIA as a research partner is no coincidence. As a member of the HES-SO network, this Geneva-based university college possesses recognized expertise in mechanical engineering, thermodynamics, and energy systems. Dr. Ricardo Lima, who will lead the academic side of the project, brings cutting-edge scientific expertise in the phenomena of expansion and energy recovery, which is perfectly aligned with the project’s technical challenges.
This collaboration exemplifies the technology transfer model promoted by Innosuisse: bringing together the expertise of Swiss universities with the concrete innovation needs of companies to generate results that are both scientifically rigorous and industrially applicable.
An innovation ecosystem rooted in French-speaking Switzerland
Receiving this Innovation Grant is part of a broader initiative for WasteOlas, which is expanding its local partnerships:
- Industrial partnership with Brasserie Docteur Gab’s (VD) for the field deployment of CCU technology
- Cantonal support through the Office for Economic Development and Innovation (SPEI) of the Canton of Vaud
- And now, federal funding through Innosuisse and an academic partnership with HEPIA (GE)
This network connecting the cantons of Vaud and Geneva—spanning the brewing industry, cleantech startups, and academic research—is a testament to a vibrant and complementary innovation ecosystem in French-speaking Switzerland.
Upcoming results
The findings of this feasibility study will be released once the research is complete. They will help determine whether cold expansion energy recovery can be integrated into WasteOlas’s CCU systems, potentially paving the way for a new generation of more efficient and energy-saving CO₂ purification solutions.
WasteOlas reaffirms its technological leadership
This recognition by Innosuisse—the Swiss Federal Agency for the Promotion of Innovation—sends a strong signal. It confirms that WasteOlas’s approach goes beyond simply piecing together existing solutions; rather, it is driven by a genuine commitment to applied R&D, aimed at pushing the boundaries of efficiency in decentralized CCU systems.
As carbon capture at the local level gains increasing importance—for environmental, economic, and geopolitical reasons alike—this project demonstrates WasteOlas’s ability to combine entrepreneurial agility with scientific rigor to develop Swiss-made solutions with significant potential for widespread adoption, well beyond the brewing sector alone.
Source: Innosuisse — Innovation Grant | HEPIA — Dr. Ricardo Lima | HEPIA — Geneva School of Landscape, Engineering, and Architecture | Project Reference: Innosuisse 136.461 INNO-ENG