European Initiative Uses Industrial CO2 to Develop Sustainable Marine and Aviation Fuels

A European project involving the Spanish National Research Council CSIC aims to turn industrial carbon dioxide CO2 emissions into sustainable fuels for aviation and shipping. This initiative seeks to address the challenges of decarbonising sectors that are difficult to electrify by developing new fuel production pathways. Named STEROPE the project has a budget of seven million euros and will develop and validate in real-world conditions a technology capable of converting gases from refineries into low-emission synthetic fuels.

Currently in the construction and commissioning phase three pilot plants are being prepared for testing at the Eleusis refinery in Greece owned by Helleniq Energy who also coordinates the European consortium. The main aim is to demonstrate the industrial viability of producing e-methanol for maritime use and sustainable aviation fuel SAF from CO2 generated by the refineries themselves.

Experts from the ICP-CSIC highlight that the initiative will enable real operational demonstration of sustainable fuel production from industrial emissions. The technology aligns with EU regulatory goals which envisage that by 2050 70% of aviation fuel will be renewable with a significant portion derived from synthetic sources.

Part of the European Innovation Actions IA STEROPE aims to develop innovations close to market readiness. Installing pilot plants within an operational refinery allows for evaluating process efficiency and integration with existing industrial infrastructure ensuring practical commercial applicability.

One of the project key elements is the real application validation of produced fuels. The synthetic e-methanol will be tested in commercial shipping engines while sustainable aviation fuel will be trialled in aircraft turbines. This step aims to bring the technology closer to commercial exploitation.

The CSIC has already installed one pilot unit at its Catalysis and Petroleum Institute to convert CO2 into e-methanol via a thermocatalytic process. Meanwhile the University of Genua in Italy is developing a capture and purification plant and the University of Ghent in Belgium is creating a facility to transform e-methanol into aviation fuel.

Once completed these plants will be transported to the Greek refinery at Eleusis where they will operate as an integrated system. This system combines captured CO2 with renewable hydrogen or green hydrogen to synthesise methanol via catalysis. The resulting methanol can be used directly as renewable maritime fuel or as a raw material for producing aviation fuels.

Further processing involves converting methanol into olefins and longer hydrocarbon chains. After hydrogenation and refining these hydrocarbons will produce molecules similar to current jet kerosene supporting drop-in replacement options. This technology known as power-to-liquid enables the synthesis of liquid fuels from residual CO2 emissions and renewable energy facilitating a shift away from fossil fuels.

Proponents believe that this approach could become a strategic tool to reduce emissions in maritime and air transport sectors. It offers the possibility of developing fuels compatible with current infrastructure and engines without significant modifications accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation solutions.