Innovation Fund Denmark invests in advanced Danish gas fermentation platform with global potential

Innovation Fund Denmark is investing DKK 24.6 million in a new Danish research project to convert industrial waste gases into valuable low-CO₂ products on a large scale. The project aims to establish a national platform for continuous gas-based bioproduction and strengthen Denmark's global position within industrial biotechnology.

One of the key bottlenecks in the green transition is the lack of efficient and scalable infrastructure to convert CO₂ and other industrial gases into sustainable products. The research and innovation project Gas2X will help to solve this challenge.

Using Unibio's advanced U-Loop® bioreactor technology, the project partners will develop a continuous pilot gas fermentation platform designed specifically for gaseous substrates. The goal is to create a more energy-efficient and scalable alternative to conventional fermentation systems, which are typically poorly suited for gas-based production.

- The potential in gas fermentation is enormous, but the lack of scalable solutions has been a significant barrier. With this project, we are taking an important step towards making bio-based production from waste gases an industrial reality, says Jens Dynesen, CSO at Unibio A/S.

From waste gas to sustainable products

The new platform will enable the conversion of CO₂, CO, H₂ and methane into low-CO₂ chemicals and materials. It will serve as both a process development facility for gas fermentation companies and a Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) test site for industries looking to better utilize their waste gas streams.

The project addresses the urgent need for technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sectors where reduction is particularly difficult and which remain highly dependent on fossil carbon. These industries account for a significant share of global emissions and are central to achieving both Danish and international climate goals.

Efficient technology with a lower climate footprint

During the project, the partners will optimize mass transfer, reactor design and continuous operation to demonstrate high productivity with low energy consumption. Unibio's vertical loop bioreactor is expected to deliver significantly improved gas-to-liquid transfer and greater flexibility across different gas sources compared to existing technologies.

The project is thus expected to support national climate goals through new solutions within Carbon Capture and Utilization, accelerate industrial decarbonization and create new opportunities for growth, exports and global technological leadership.

The project is a collaboration between Unibio A/S and Again and is funded by Innovation Fund Denmark.

Facts

• Innovation Fund's investment: DKK 24.6 million
• Total budget: 37.1 million DKK
• Duration: 3 years
• Official title: Novel Danish Gas-Fermentation Demonstration Facility for Gas-2-X Applications

About the partners

Unibio is a global technology company leveraging advanced gas fermentation and its proprietary U-Loop® technology to convert methane and other gases into valuable products. Originally developed for sustainable protein production, Unibio’s platform has broader industrial potential to deliver value across multiple applications.

Again is a global biotech company transforming how essential products are made. Headquartered in Copenhagen, it turns waste CO2 into valuable products, offering cost-competitive, resilient, lower-carbon solutions for commodity, specialty, fine chemicals, and fertilizers.