On May 1, 2017, the Horizon 2020 research project “Demonstration of Waste Biomass to Synthetic Fuels and Green Hydrogen” (acronym: TOSYNFUEL) coordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT with the support of the project partners, officially started. The project has a budget of over 14 million euros, a duration of 48 months, and will demonstrate how residual fuel is used for the first time in the production of synthetic fuel and hydrogen.
Political background
The European Commission has set the goal of producing 10% of the fuel used in transport from renewable sources. However, the first generation of biofuels has been criticized for ecological and social reasons, such as rising food prices, deforestation, and the increased use of fossil fuels in cultivating and transporting raw materials. To address these concerns, the Commission imposed an upper limit on biofuels derived from foodstuffs or energy crops. “There is an urgent need to launch innovative biofuels from sustainable raw materials,” explains Prof. Dr. Andreas Hornung, coordinator of the project.
TCR® technology as a solution
The developed TCR® technology from Fraunhofer UMSICHT is a globally applicable solution. Thermocatalytic reforming produces renewable, liquid fuels from waste biomass, which can replace fossil fuels. The fuels produced meet European standards for petrol and diesel (EN228 and EN590), as demonstrated at the pilot plant scale. The technology converts a wide range of residual biomasses into three main products: H2-rich synthesis gas, biocarbon, and liquid bio-oil, which can be further upgraded.
The main target of the TOSYNFUEL project
“The main goal is to create a new value chain through the combination of TCR® and HDO and the separation of H2. For example, biogenic waste or organic residues will be converted into demonstration-scale, cost-effective, and high-performance synthetic fuels within the project. These products can be used directly in combustion engines,” says Prof. Dr. Andreas Hornung. To achieve this, the TOSYNFUEL project is subdivided into ten milestones, each linked to a corresponding work package. In addition, the project aims to increase the acceptance of biofuels and demonstrate that the new diesel and gasoline-equivalent synthetic fuels are competitive with fossil fuels. Long-term, TCR® technology will offer the possibility of transforming organic waste into renewable fuels with the quality of fossil fuels, directly integrated into existing petroleum infrastructure. “We want to show that TCR® technology is not only environmentally friendly but also economically viable,” says Prof. Dr. Hornung, who will install a TCR® system at the Port of Rotterdam.
Partner in the EU project TOSYNFUEL
For the project, Fraunhofer UMSICHT (Germany) has partnered with various organizations including Engie Services Niederland NV (Netherlands),
Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna (Italy),
ENI S.p.A. (Italy),
University of Birmingham (United Kingdom),
ETA–Florence Renewable Energies (Italy),
LEITAT (Spain),
Susteen Technologies GmbH (Germany),
WRG Europe Ltd (United Kingdom),
Verfahrenstechnik Schwedt GmbH (Germany),
HYGEAR Technology and Services BV (Netherlands), and
Slibverwerking Noord-Brabant NV (Netherlands). Each of the partners has specific tasks and contributes to the overall success of the project.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 745749. This publication reflects only the author’s views and the European Union is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
