“ITQ researchers take part in the H2020 european project IDEALFUEL which aims to produce entirely biogenic marine fuels from biomass-derived lignin”

ITQ researchers, in cooperation with other academic institutions, Eindhoven University of Technology (Tue, coordinator), OWI Science for Fuels gGmbH, affiliated to RWTH Aachen University (OWI), and companies, Vertoro B.V., TEC4FUELS GmbH, Bloom Biorenewables Ltd, Uniresearch B.V., Winterthur Gas & Diesel Ltd., GoodFuels B.V., Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH and Varo Energy Netherlands B.V., take part in the H2020 Reasearch and Innovation Action IDEALFUEL.

The major goal of the project is to develop an efficient and low-cost chemical pathway to convert lignin, a major and rather recalcitrant component of woody residual and waste materials such as sawdust and

wood chips into a Biogenic Heavy Fuel Oil (Bio-HFO), with ultra-low sulfur levels, that can be directly applied as drop-in fuel in the existing maritime fleet. Two innovative, efficient and complementary lignin extraction and depolymerization pathways will be upscaled for the production of crude (non-pyrolytic) lignin oils (CLOs) stabilized in bio-methanol, which will serve as feed for the production of marine fuels via mild hydrotreatment catalytic processes. The ambition of the IDEALFUEL project is to develop the new technologies and processes from the current lab-scale (TRL3) via bench-scale (TRL4) to pilot scale (TRL5) to prove the performance and compatibility of the Bio-HFO over the whole blending range in maritime fuel systems and marine engines. In addition, IDEALFUEL will carry out a Well-to-Propeller impact assessment and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to check and proof the soundness of the environmental, society, and sustainability aspects of the developed technologies, processes, products, solutions, and logistics.

 

ITQ researchers contribute to the development of solid catalysts for the hydrotreatment of CLOs under mild operation conditions, essential to set the physico-chemical properties of lignin derivatives within the ranges required for their application as fuels in current 2-stroke marine engines.

 

More information on the project as well as updates on developments and events at the project’s website: http://idealfuel.eu/

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. 883753.