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TRIMIS

Lignocellulosic oil: novel biofuel platform for maritime transportation

Project

SEAFARER - Lignocellulosic oil: novel biofuel platform for maritime transportation


Funding origin:
European
European Union
STRIA Roadmaps:
Low-emission alternative energy for transport (ALT)
Low-emission alternative energy for transport
Transport mode:
Waterborne
Waterborne
Duration:
Start date: 01/11/2022,
End date: 31/10/2025

Status: Finished
Funding details:
Total cost:
€3 567 500
EU Contribution:
€2 497 250

Overview

Background & policy context:

The maritime sector is among the world’s biggest polluters. The EU-funded SEAFARER project will further mature, demonstrate and bring to market the next-generation biofuel oil production process allowing oil refineries to retrofit for 100 % climate-neutral operations. The proposed patented technology is the first simple process for highly efficient sustainable biomass conversion based on lignocellulose and even pure lignin as feedstock. SEAFARER technology can produce lignocellulosic biofuel oil (L-BFO) that is fully miscible with all current liquid fuels targeting the maritime sector, is 80 % energy-efficient and twice as cheap as all other existing biofuel oil production methods. The L-BFO can be used on existing ships.

Objectives:

SEAFARER has the objective to further mature, demonstrate, and bring to market the next-generation bio (fuel) oil process allowing oil refineries to retrofit for 100% climate-neutral operations. Our patented technology is the first process for high-efficient sustainable biomass conversion using lignocellulose and even pure lignin as feedstock – the most abundantly available & non-edible waste biomass on Earth, yet currently to 98% unexploited. Our process is simple (one-step reaction; no catalysts), 80% energy-efficient and more than 2-times cheaper than all existing biofuel oil production methods. Our technology is thus highly scalable, able to produce lignocellulosic biofuel oil (L-BFO) that is fully miscible with all current liquid fuels – a unique feature, especially for the maritime sector, where engines found aboard large ships are adapted to more crude fuels (i.e. no refinement step needed for using our L-BFO) and where replacing (heavy & costly) engines is not an option.

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