The FUELGAE project aims to develop a novel model of advanced liquid fuels (ALF) production from different CO₂ emissions streams of two industrial sectors (biorefinery and energy-intensive industries) through a microalgae pilot plant integrated into their infrastructure.
The ALF production will be addressed by developing different technologies:
I) Microalgae will be adapted, analysed, and selected according to their ability to produce according to the needs of each industrial case study;
II) A pilot photobioreactor plant that can be integrated into the existing infrastructure of the 2G bioethanol plant /steel plant will be constructed and tested in Greece before being validated at two field sites in Romania and Spain;
III) Alternative novel treatments for the resulting microalgal biomass will be development;
IV) An innovative multifunctional catalytic upgrading system for the production of advanced liquid biofuels will be tested;
V) Biochar, which will be produced as a side-product, will be tested for use in agriculture as a soil enhancer;
VI) Additionally, a modelling technique will be integrated into Process Analytical Techniques to develop a global Digital Twin (DT).
VII) Finally, a thorough life cycle analysis will be conducted to ensure that the final product will achieve net reductions in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and be economically viable.
FUELGAE will contribute to advancing the European scientific basis and global technological leadership in the area of renewable fuels, increasing European technological competitiveness, and boosting the EU’s role in transforming the energy system to achieve fossil-free status by 2050, in particular in the transport sectors such as aviation and shipping, while supporting the EU goals for energy independence.