Pilot Infrastructure

Moonshot's Later Stage Innovation (LSI) projects bridge the gap between experimental development and industrial implementation, often referred to as the ‘valley of death’. In practice, LSI projects support research and knowledge institutes in scaling up and validating breakthrough technologies using dedicated pilot‑scale infrastructure. 

Companies are encouraged to actively make use of the pilot infrastructure supported by Moonshot Flanders. Do not hesitate to contact our Moonshot team if you would like to be connected with the operators of these facilities.
 

Discover below the pilot infrastructure in operation and in development.

Pilot infrastructure in operation

CLARIFY

Pilot-scale de-inking and delamination of plastic packaging waste

Commissioned in September 2025 by Ghent University’s LCPE research group, the CLARIFY pilot plant advances mechanical, dissolution, and innovative material‑processing routes for a wide range of plastics and is capable of processing large batches to validate process robustness and product quality. It focuses on pilot-scale de-inking and de-lamination, separating inks and thin barrier layers (such as aluminium) from plastic films to produce a clean polymer fraction that can be reused as high-quality feedstock. The CLARIFY pilot plant officially opened in January 2026.
 
Technology
De-inking and delamination of plastic waste
Feedstock
Printed plastic packaging, laminated plastic films and plastic waste streams
Output
De-inked and delaminated plastic fractions suitable for further recycling and testing in extrusion lines
Scale 100-1000 kg batches
Operator Ghent University (LCPE)

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Super-Dry Reforming

Pilot infrastructure for converting CO2 and methane into carbon monoxide (CO)

The SDR pilot plant scales up the super‑dry reforming process, efficiently converting CO2 into pure CO using (bio)methane through an intensified chemical looping technology that transforms up to three CO2 molecules per CH4 molecule. This milestone is crucial for advancing technologies aimed at reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions and tackling climate change. The SDR pilot plant officially opened in September 2024.
 
Technology
Super-Dry Reforming (chemical looping)
Feedstock
CO2 and methane gas
Output CO
Scale
1 kg CO2/h
Operator Ghent University (LCT)

PILLAR II (part of LignoValue Pilot)

Pilot infrastructure for catalytic conversion of lignin and wood into biobased aromatics

The PILLAR II plant is an integral part of the LignoValue Pilot Plant, Europe’s first and only pilot line dedicated to depolymerising lignin into bio-aromatics. The Pillar II unit is dedicated to preprocessing and liquefying lignin from biomass, such as wood pulp. The liquefied lignin can be fed directly into the LignoValue Pilot, where it is converted into valuable, sustainable bio‑aromatics. In 2026, LignoValue reached an important milestone with a successful continuous run lasting 72 hours, producing nearly two tonnes of lignin‑rich feed. The PILLAR II unit officially opened in 2024.

Technology
Catalytic biorefinery
Feedstock
Lignin, wood and other lignocellulosic biomass
Output
Biobased aromatics
Scale
40 kg/h feedstock
Operator VITO

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BIOCON

Pilot infrastructure for producing bio-aromatics from wood and agricultural residues

The BIOCON scale‑up facility converts plant‑based feedstocks into safe and sustainable products through advanced chemical process technologies. It produces refined lignin oil and carbohydrate pulp as high‑value biobased outputs that can be used in a wide range of downstream chemical applications, including adhesives, coatings, foams, surfactants, bioactive compounds, and biofuels. The BIOCON facility currently produces samples at the kilogram scale. Future expansion of the pilot plant will focus on biorefinery reactors, advanced analytics, downstream purification and product synthesis and applications.
 
Technology
Reductive Catalytic Fractionation (RCF) / lignin-first biorefinery
Feedstock
Wood, agricultural residues and other lignocellulosic biomass streams
Output
Lignin oil (bio-aromatics), cellulose pulp and sugar streams
Scale
200 L reactor, 5-10 kg biomass/batch
Operator KU Leuven (Biocon)

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Pilot infrastructure in development

The following Later Stage Innovation (LSI) projects are currently in the pilot design or development phase.

  • ELCO2SYN: Pilot-scale electrolysis of CO₂ and water into sustainable syngas
  • SUPREME: Pilot-scale manufacturing of advanced membranes for efficient CO₂ capture
  • OPTIMA: Compact vortex technology for industrial CO₂ capture
  • ELECTRA: Industrial-scale testing facility for CO₂ electrolysis technologies
  • Upheat-B2I: High-temperature heat pump technology for industrial process heat
  • PROMETHEUS: Electrified steam cracking for low-carbon olefin production
  • PURE-SCALE: Pilot-scale chemical recycling of polyurethane waste
  • HYDRA: High-throughput alkaline electrolysis for low-cost green hydrogen production

More about LSI project