Project description DEENESFRITPL Resource-efficient production of sustainable aviation biofuels Achieving climate neutrality in Europe requires large volumes of sustainable fuels for transport sectors like aviation. The EU-funded CIRCULAIR project will design an integrated pathway that produces cost-effective aviation biofuels based on hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of abundant agricultural residues (manure, straw). Key innovations of CIRCULAIR include close thermal coupling of HTL conversion with exothermic wet oxidation of the HTL process water. The project will also develop innovative approaches to upgrading HTL biocrudes to jet fuel and accelerating the approval of HTL-derived fuels for use in civil aviation. Coupling with green hydrogen generation enables almost complete biomass utilisation and yields methanol as a main by-product. Furthermore, CIRCULAIR will close a knowledge gap regarding the utilisation of HTL solids for soil amendment and carbon sequestration. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Achieving climate neutrality in Europe requires large volumes of truly sustainable fuels to provide long-term solutions for transport sectors where direct electrification is not viable. CIRCULAIR addresses this challenge with an integrated biofuel pathway that produces cost-effective aviation fuels and generates negative emissions. Key innovations of CIRCULAIR involve a close thermal coupling of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) conversion, based on abundant and available agricultural residues and lignocellulosic crops, with exothermic wet oxidation of HTL process water. In this way, autothermal operation can be achieved, carbon is fully utilized, and the process water disposal problem of HTL is solved. In addition, CIRCULAIR develops innovative approaches to upgrade HTL biocrudes to jet fuel and accelerates the approval of HTL fuels for civil aviation. The biomass resource utilization is maximized by developing valorisation schemes for all relevant side streams along the process chain. In particular, acetic acid will be extracted from residual process waters and methanol will be synthesized from effluent gas streams and renewable hydrogen. Importantly, CIRCULAIR will close a knowledge gap regarding the utilization of fixed carbon in the HTL solids for carbon sequestration and soil amendment, i.e. for a negative contribution to the carbon balance. The targeted overall net-negative emission will be quantified based on life cycle analysis. Finally, techno- and socio-economic analyses will identify important benefits and trade-offs associated with the advanced biofuel process. In summary: CIRCULAIR will investigate and develop an innovative process for resource-efficient production of sustainable aviation biofuels alongside further marketable renewable chemicals and fuel products. The utilization of biomass feedstock that is abundant in agricultural environments ensures cost-efficiency, relevant scale and the potential to create net-negative carbon emissions. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsliquid fuelsagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agriculturenatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryhydrocarbonsnatural scienceschemical sciencesphysical chemistrythermochemistryengineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbiofuels Keywords jet fuel negative emissions hydrothermal liquefaction sectorial coupling renewable hydrogen Programme(s) HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility Main Programme HORIZON.2.5.2 - Energy Supply Topic(s) HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-03-09 - Carbon-negative sustainable biofuel production Call for proposal HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-03 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions Coordinator BAUHAUS LUFTFAHRT EV Net EU contribution € 859 291,00 Address WILLY MESSERSCHMITT STRASSE 1 82024 Taufkirchen Germany See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Landkreis Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 859 291,25 Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all AARHUS UNIVERSITET Denmark Net EU contribution € 811 941,00 Address NORDRE RINGGADE 1 8000 Aarhus C See on map Region Danmark Midtjylland Østjylland Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 811 941,25 AALBORG UNIVERSITET Denmark Net EU contribution € 706 851,00 Address FREDRIK BAJERS VEJ 7K 9220 Aalborg See on map Region Danmark Nordjylland Nordjylland Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 706 851,25 UNIVERSITAET HOHENHEIM Germany Net EU contribution € 586 493,75 Address SCHLOSS HOHENHEIM 70599 Stuttgart See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart Stuttgart, Stadtkreis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 586 493,75 UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID Spain Net EU contribution € 460 187,50 Address AVENIDA DE SENECA 2 28040 Madrid See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 460 187,50 TOPSOE AS Denmark Net EU contribution € 249 680,00 Address HALDOR TOPSOES ALLE 1 2800 Kongens Lyngby See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 249 680,00 CIRCLIA NORDIC APS Denmark Net EU contribution € 484 715,00 Address BAUTAVEJ 11 8210 AARHUS See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Danmark Midtjylland Østjylland Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 484 715,00 ENI SPA Italy Net EU contribution € 290 250,00 Address PIAZZALE MATTEI ENRICO 1 00144 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 290 250,00 RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTES OF SWEDEN AB Sweden Net EU contribution € 249 755,00 Address BRINELLGATAN 4 501 15 Boras See on map Region Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 249 755,00 L - UP SAS France Net EU contribution € 300 750,00 Address Avenue de Friedland 32 75008 Paris See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 300 750,00