ALFAFUELS proposes a novel Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) production technology that can play a major role in the decarbonisation of the aviation sector by replacing conventional fossil fuels in mid and long-term. ALFAFUELS contributes to climate change mitigation, energy transition, and on the establishment of a circular bio-based economy by providing a direct capture and utilisation of CO2, by developing cost-effective and sustainable technological solutions in all process steps, and by providing integration possibilities with other sectors. The project’s aim is to tackle the key challenges preventing SAF technologies to reach technological maturity and commercialisation such as the high current production cost, sustainability issues associated with their production, technological constraints (yields and efficiencies). To that end, ALFAFUELS includes targeted technological breakthroughs, such as the microbial production of a volatile fuel precursor from CO2, the upgrade to kerosene-type jet fuel molecules in ambient conditions using solar light-driven photochemistry, and the valorisation of all cell components in a biorefinery approach to co-produce starch and H2 (indirectly from CO2) as an important intermediate. The proposed technological novelties are combined with modelling approaches to maximize efficiencies, to optimize the overall process regarding cost and energy consumption and to evaluate the process with combined techno-economic and life cycle assessments. The project lifts the production technologies at TRL5, by including the design of novel cost-efficient bioreactors, pilot scale trials on real, industrially relevant CO2 streams and evaluation of the produced molecules against ASTM standards. To further accelerate the upscaling of ALFAFUELS, we analyse the systemic barriers and opportunities for the implementation of SAF technologies in Europe, using modelling tools and capitalizing from the participation of industrial end-users in the consortium.

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is emerging as innovative technology to produce renewable transportation fuels. The advantages of HTL are reflected in its high feedstock versatility, its ability to convert wet materials and its advantageous environmental and economic performance. Bio-crude, the primary HTL product, can be upgraded to high-quality fuels. The objectives of HyFlexFuel include: 1) Demonstrating HTL conversion compatibility with diverse advanced biomass feedstocks. 2) Maturing HTL-based fuel production from TRL 2-4 to TRL 5. 3) Increasing heat integration and product recovery at TRL 5. 4) Understanding of relation between feedstock and process conditions vs. product yield and quality. 5) Efficient valorisation of residual process streams. 6) Quantification of techno-economic and environmental performance potentials, risks and benefits. 7) Demonstrating drop-in capability of HyFlexFuel products from diverse feedstocks. 8) Quantification of potential technology gaps of a full-scale production plant. HyFlexFuel will assess the potential availability of feedstocks specifically suitable for HTL at European, national and local scale. Local feedstock supply chains will be analysed. HTL conversion will be optimised utilizing diverse feedstocks in a relevant environment at TRL 5. The currently less mature process step of catalytic hydrotreatment of bio-crude will be further developed through a parametric study of process conditions, targeted catalyst development and demonstrated on a continuous system. The energetic valorisation of the remaining soluble organics in the HTL water phase will be achieved through catalytic hydrothermal gasification (cHTG). Inorganic salts will be recovered from residual process streams to produce marketable fertilisers. Finally, the techno-economic and environmental performance of the entire HyFlexFuel production chain will be evaluated, focusing on social, technological, economic and environmental risks and potential benefits.

The reduction of greenhouse emissions is currently acknowledged as a major European objective, and by 2040 a 40% emissions cut is expected, with renewable sources contributing up to 27%. In this respect LAB&FAB aims at developing the fabrication of efficient, cheap and stable organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology printed on flexible substrates, which will be scalable and eventually transferred from a lab-environment to production line. LAB&FAB action will spread on the two parallel fronts: the pilot-scale on one side, and the lab-scale on the other. At the pilot-scale, LAB&FAB will exploit state-of-the art printed OPV modules to push their efficiency, while doubling their lifetime by the end of the project. Long-term stability tests will be carried out and allow for a complete durability assessment, while technological improvements will be introduced to target the efficiency/lifetime goals, as specific weaknesses will be spotted. At the lab scale, novel and efficient materials will be thoroughly explored and characterised and optimised printing protocols will be established for their subsequent integration into solar cells large-area production. Degradation tests will also help assess the materials/devices performance, and at the end of fellowship new efficiency/lifetime benchmarks for such scaled OPV cells will be set. The Experienced Researcher (ER) acquired a solid background on physics of OPV, and thanks to this fellowship she will capitalise and expand it toward more technologically-based challenges related to its technology upscaling. The Host Institution ENI (Italy) is embracing a full transition toward a low-carbon scenario, and thanks to the multidisciplinary aspects of LAB&FAB (covering physics, device engineering, and intellectual property management just to name a few) the Host will be able to offer the ER the perfect environment for future growth and advancement of her professional career in the non-academic sector.

TO-SYN-FUEL will demonstrate the conversion of organic waste biomass (Sewage Sludge) into biofuels. The project implements a new integrated process combining Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR©), with hydrogen separation through pressure swing adsorption (PSA), and hydro deoxygenation (HDO), to produce a fully equivalent gasoline and diesel substitute (compliant with EN228 and EN590 European Standards) and green hydrogen for use in transport . The TO-SYN-FUEL project consortium has undoubtedly bought together the leading researchers, industrial technology providers and renewable energy experts from across Europe, in a combined, committed and dedicated research effort to deliver the overarching ambition. Building and extending from previous framework funding this project is designed to set the benchmark for future sustainable development and growth within Europe and will provide a real example to the rest of the world of how sustainable energy, economic, social and environmental needs can successfully be addressed. This project will be the platform for deployment of a subsequent commercial scale facility. This will be the first of its kind to be built anywhere in the world, processing organic industrial wastes directly into transportation grade biofuels fuels which will be a demonstration showcase for future sustainable investment and economic growth across Europe. This project will mark the first pre-commercial scale deployment of the technology processing up to 2100 tonnes per year of dried sewage sludge into 210,000 litres per year of liquid biofuels and up to 30,000 kg of green hydrogen. The scale up of 100 of such plants installed throughout Europe would be sufficient to convert up to 32 million tonnes per year of organic wastes into sustainable biofuels, contributing towards 35 million tonnes of GHG savings and diversion of organic wastes from landfill. This proposal is responding to the European Innovation Call LCE-19.