Objective
Photofuel studies and advances the biocatalytic production of alternative liquid transportation fuels, which require only sunlight, CO2 and water. Microbial cells directly excrete hydrocarbon and long chain alcohol fuel compounds to the medium from which they are separated, without the need to harvest biomass. This significantly improves the costs and energy balances as only a minimum of nutrients is required for self-replication of the biocatalyst, whilst cell harvesting, drying and lipid extraction is omitted. Such minimum-input systems are compatible with operation on degraded or desert land which avoids the pitfalls of most of the currently available biofuel technologies. The products are drop-in fuels that fully or partially replace their fossil counterparts without the need for new infrastructure. To set a benchmark for alternative solar fuels, three research groups will collaborate in the advancement of the biocatalysts from TRL 3. The best biocatalytic system(s) will be up-scaled and operated outdoors in photobioreactors modified for direct fuel separation at a scale of several cubic meters (TRL 4-5). The identification of optimal future fuel blends with a fossil fuel base and Photofuel biofuels as additives, as well as the analysis of performance and emissions in car or truck engines, will be evaluated by the oil- and automotive-industry partners. The entire pathway will be assessed for environmental and economic performance as well as social acceptance of large scale production in rural communities and by the consumer. All results will be combined to a business development plan, which clearly identifies the opportunities but also the challenges prior to an economic fuel production in compliance to the EC Fuel Quality Directive.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybioremediationbioreactors
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipids
- natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisbiocatalysis
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbiofuels
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
38440 Wolfsburg
Germany
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Participants (13)
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
38442 WOLFSBURG
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751 05 Uppsala
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33615 Bielefeld
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SW7 2AZ LONDON
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50121 Florence
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1649 038 Lisboa
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
92500 Rueil Malmaison
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02150 Espoo
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
06101 Porvoo
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76131 Karlsruhe
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10043 Orbassano
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405 08 Goteborg
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27777 GANDERKESEE
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.