The Circular Fuels project integrates concentrated solar heat, solar electrical energy, and thermochemical conversion of bio-based waste materials to produce sustainable aviation fuels. Coupling concentrated solar heat with fast pyrolysis to produce sustainable aviation fuels has not yet been achieved and requires technological innovation. Waste wood (A+B) and agricultural residues (straw), listed in the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII Annex IX), will be used as cheap and abundant bio-based waste material feedstocks. The feedstock will be first converted into renewable bio-oil in the new solar assisted fast pyrolysis. The use of solar energy removes the need to burn any fraction of the pyrolysis products to heat the pyrolysis process. The solar pyrolysis will produce valuable by-products, such as biochar, that can improve the economics of the process. The pyrolysis oil will be stabilized and upgraded to reduce the oxygen content to close to zero by slurry hydrotreatment and hydrodeoxygenation. These processes will employ green hydrogen, produced using optimized solar photovoltaic-assisted water proton exchange membrane electrolysis. Finally, the oil will be fractionated into sustainable transportation fuels by distillation. Our main objective is to maximize the fraction of jet fuel. In addition, we will analyze all component fractions suitable as transportation bio-fuel products, such as gasoline and diesel, to maximize the profitability of the concept. The proposed new thermal pyrolysis process pathway is not yet standardized for ASTM D7566 (Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons). Therefore, we will perform compatibility and turbine combustion tests for the required standardization and inclusion into ASTM D7566. We aim for a sustainable aviation fuel production price of 1.5 €/kg. We will analyze the sustainability aspects of the technology and give policy recommendations for successful commercialization.

The high-level goal of BioRECO2VER is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of more energy efficient and sustainable non-photosynthetic anaerobic and micro-aerobic biotechnological processes for the capture and conversion of CO2 from industrial point sources into 2 valuable platform chemicals, i.e. isobutene and lactate. To overcome several of the existing technical and economic barriers for CO2 conversion by industrial biotechnology, the project will focus on minimizing gas pretreatment costs, maximizing gas transfer in bioreactors, preventing product inhibition, minimizing product recovery costs, reducing footprint and improving scalability. To this end, a hybrid enzymatic process will be investigated for CO2 capture from industrial point sources and conversion of captured CO2 into the targeted end-products will be realized through 3 different proprietary microbial platforms which are representative of a much wider range of products and applications. Bioprocess development and optimization will occur along 2 lines: fermentation and bioelectrochemical systems. The 3 microbial platforms will be advanced to TRL 4, and the most promising solution for each target product will be validated at TRL 5 on real off gases. To prepare for industrial implementation and contribute to public acceptance, the technological activities will be complemented with virtual plant design, economic and sustainability assessments and extensive dissemination. All activities will be executed by a well-balanced and experienced group of 2 Research and Technology Organizations, 2 universities, 4 SMEs and 4 large industries.

Hydrogen's importance globally is evident across multiple sectors like industry, energy, and transport, with the EU prioritizing renewable hydrogen production. Strategies outlined in the EU Hydrogen Strategy and REPowerEU plan aim to decarbonize the EU and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. The shift towards hydrogen requires comprehensive strategies, encompassing investment support, market creation, and global cooperation. HySPARK in Poland accelerates this transition by overcoming technological and non-technological barriers. With a production hub in Włocławek, it aims to produce over 3,000 tons of renewable hydrogen annually, serving various local applications. Six testbed applications will be tested for at least 2 years, gathering operational data to evaluate the techno-economic, societal, and environmental metrics. The testbeds will cover both the transport and the industry sectors and will consist of: (i) the upstream hydrogen production and (ii) the Hydrogen Refuelling stations infrastructure; (iii) 4 semi-trucks for freight road, (iv) 2 buses for the public road, (v) 8 tow tractors for the ground handling transport; (vi) Green Ammonia production. Each testbed application will be fully set up in terms of infrastructure, planning of the associated logistics and the synergetic management of all distributed assets, to demonstrate the practicality and efficiency of H2, also integrated within Warsaw Chopin Airport to contribute to EU's 2050 hydrogen-ready airports objective. Nevertheless, HySPARK will develop the user-friendly and intuitive Energy Planner utilized to refine and optimize the HySPARK supply chain, ensuring its seamless integration into the broader energy ecosystem. In connection with ongoing EU-funded projects (TH2ICINO and SH2AMROCK), HySPARK leverages established networks to improve project deliverables and fosters a community of practice that supports continuous improvement and innovation in hydrogen valley initiatives.

Natural gas fired Combined Cycle (CC) power plants are currently the backbone of EU electrical grid, providing most of regulation services necessary to increase the share of non-programmable renewable sources into the electrical grid. As a consequence, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Utilities are investigating new strategies and technologies for power flexibility. On the other hand, existing cogenerative CCs are usually constrained by thermal user demand, hence can provide limited services to the grid. At the same time, CHP plants are highly promoted for their high rate of energy efficiency (> 90%) and combined with district heating network are a pillar of the EU energy strategy. To un-tap such unexploited reserve of flexibility, and to further enhance turn-down ratio and power ramp capabilities of power oriented CCs, this project proposes the demonstration of an innovative concept based on the coupling of a fast-cycling highly efficient heat pump (HP) with CCs. The integrated system features thermal storage and advanced control concept for smart scheduling. The HP will include an innovative expander to increase the overall efficiency of the HP. In such an integrated concept, the following advantages are obtained: - the HP is controlled to modulate power in order to cope with the CC primary reserve market constraints; - the high temperature heat can be exploited in the district heating network, when available; low temperature cooling power can be used for gas turbine inlet cooling or for steam condenser cooling, thus reducing the water consumption; - in both options, the original CC operational envelope is significantly expanded and additional power flexibility is achieved. In general, the CC integration with a HP and a cold/hot thermal storage brings to a reduction of the Minimum Environmental Load (MEL) and to an increase in power ramp rates, while enabling power augmentation at full load and increasing electrical grid resilience and flexibility.