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The SEAFAIRER project's objective is to demonstrate technology for producing renewable marine biofuels, aiming to reduce GHG emissions in the shipping industry. The project is funded by a 10 million euro budget, co-financed by the Horizon Europe program.
With an annual demand of over 300 million tons of fossil fuel, the shipping industry contributes 3% of global GHG emissions. Regulatory pressures for decarbonization are increasing due to targets set by FuelEU Maritime, IMO, and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Future fuels like ammonia and methanol require new infrastructure and engine configurations, which are not yet widely available.
SEAFAIRER aims to create marine fuels that can be used in existing engines as drop-in solutions, while significantly reducing the carbon footprint.
To achieve this, an innovative and patented technology by Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT will be scaled up to demonstration level. The project targets the production of at least 6,000 liters of biofuel for testing in the Mediterranean.
Flexibility in biogenic input materials
The SEAFAIRER project utilizes the »VINTER« technology, which stands for »Vertical Intermediate Thermochemical Conversion.« Developed by Fraunhofer, this technology involves a single-stage intermediate pyrolysis and an integrated post-reforming process.
It converts various biogenic feedstocks into three valuable products: carbon-negative biochar, biocrude oil (intermediate biofuel), and syngas. The VINTER technology will be scaled from a throughput capacity of 65 kg/h to at least 250 kg/h.
A major advantage of the VINTER technology is its flexibility in input materials, allowing the use of globally abundant biogenic residues that do not compete with food and feed production. The project will process three different biogenic feedstocks: rice husk, biowaste sieving material, and residual agave bagasse from the tequila and mezcal industry. All feedstocks are selected from fair sources, avoiding indirect land use change (iLUC).
High quality conversion products
The VINTER demonstration plant will produce three products from the selected input materials during several test campaigns:
(1) Biogenic crude oil for biofuel: The biogenic crude oil, which is the base for the biofuel is evaluated in two application routes: Path A involves direct blending (B10 to B30) with very low sulfur bunker oil (VLSFO) as a drop-in marine fuel, meeting ISO 8217:2024 standards. Path B focuses on industrial maritime shipping's medium to long-term needs, upgrading VINTER crude oil via hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) to achieve higher blending ratios (B50 to B100), equivalent to Marine Diesel Oil (MDO).
(2) Biochar serves as a natural carbon sink with extensive agricultural and industrial applications. In addition, biochar is recognized as a medium for long-term CO2 removal and therefore a crucial tool to achieve the European climate targets. As part of the project, the biochar from VINTER will be certified with the European Biochar Certification (EBC).
(3) Syngas:The hydrogen-rich gas is used for combined heat and power (CHP) generation at the VINTER site. Half of the generated heat meets the VINTER reactor's demand, while the rest is used for drying feedstock or external local heat demands.
Real world test of the biofules, LCA and business model
At the project's conclusion, a real-world demonstration of the advanced biofuel will occur in a vessel on a 30-day campaign at the port of Valencia. Emissions and fuel performance will be monitored live onboard to quantify the benefits for the maritime sector.
Throughout the project, life-cycle analysis, techno-economic assessment, and a cost analysis of the novel value chain will be conducted. This data will contribute to a business plan, developed by KPMG, to facilitate the technology's commercial deployment by the start-up company SAGAVA.
SEAFAIRER is an Innovation Action funded by the Horizon Europe framework programme under Grant Agreement no. 101173002, coordinated by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), with a total budget of 10 million EUR.
The project spans 48 months, starting in September 2024 and ending in August 2028. The consortium consists of 10 partners: DTU, UABIO, FVTR, Fraunhofer UMSICHT, FVP, KPMG, Petrogal, TERGY SAGAVA, ETA-Florence, and Centro Mario Molina.
Frederik Betsch
Phone +49 9661 8155-555
Mobile +49 170 371 5011
Email: frederik.betsch@umsicht.fraunhofer.de
https://www.seafairer-project.eu/
A pilot plant (here in the Fraunhofer UMSICHT technical center) of the VINTER technology is being sc ...
Fraunhofer UMSICHT
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A pilot plant (here in the Fraunhofer UMSICHT technical center) of the VINTER technology is being sc ...
Fraunhofer UMSICHT
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