Development of next generation renewable fuel technologies from CO2 and renewable energy (Power and Energy to Renewable Fuels)

Proposals will develop next generation renewable fuels for energy and transport, which improve substantially (beyond the state-of-the-art), the performance regarding energy efficiency as well as cost of the conversion of direct renewable energy (e.g. sunlight) or renewable electricity and /or heat to liquid or gaseous renewable fuels from CO₂. Targeted fuels should also provide very low engine-out emissions.

Proposals are expected to bring the technology from TRL 3-4 to 4-5 (please see part G of the General Annexes).

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 3 to 5 million would allow this challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Renewable energy is expected to grow faster than the capacity of the grid, thereby creating storage needs. The energy required to produce current renewable fuels reduces their competitiveness as alternatives to fossil fuels. The specific challenge is to increase the competitiveness of next generation renewable fuels through efficiently integrating unexploited renewable energy sources in their production process and to foster their use as a renewable energy storage option taking advantage of the existing infrastructure for gaseous and liquids fuels.

The supported projects are expected to reduce conversion energy losses and production costs of algal fuels/power to gas/liquid and heat to gas/liquid renewable fuels respectively, as well as improving performance of these fuels as regards the efficiency, the environment and society.