Project SUNFUSION: Production of sustainable aviation and marine fuels via synergistic microalgae-yeast cultivation and solar-assisted continuous hydrothermal liquefaction

Abstract

As the decarbonization of the aviation and maritime sectors requires energy-dense and infrastructure-compatible energy carriers, liquid biofuels are derived from renewable resources through the application of appropriate technologies. Although lipid-rich microalgal and yeast biomass is considered as promising biogenic feedstocks thanks to their high lipid content and scalability, each pathway faces its own challenges in terms of productivity, carbon utilization efficiency and energy demand processing. The SUNFUSION project proposes a solar-assisted and circular biofuel production concept that overcomes these limitations by combining complementary autotrophic and heterotrophic cultivation systems, advanced thermochemical conversion through the continuous hydrothermal liquefaction technology, thermal energy storage as well as biocrude oil upgrade for the production of sustainable aviation and marine biofuels respectively. The aim is to validate the system at laboratory environment, yet in an integrated manner corresponding, to a certain extent, to the future envisaged scaledup operation in line with the EU priorities on decarbonization and the promotion of European energy security.