In Europe, there is a growing understanding that aviation and shipping cannot develop by relying solely on electrification, which is linked to the transition to renewable energy sources. Energy-intensive transport requires fuel, and in the context of a complete rejection of fossil resources, synthetic fuels may be the solution. This is in line with the EU’s “green” doctrine and will not cause environmental pollution.
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The EU authorities announced that they had allocated €8 million for the development of two technologies for the production of “solar” fuel within the framework of the SUN-PERFORM and S2B (Solar to Butanol) projects. In both cases, it is assumed that combustible molecules will be synthesized using genetically modified organisms. The SUN-PERFORM technology will produce lipids (triglycerides), which can be converted into biodiesel or environmentally friendly aviation fuel using standard processes. The S2B technology is aimed at the direct synthesis of butanol, which can also be used as a fuel.
The SUN-PERFORM project will be developed in the Netherlands under the leadership of Wageningen University. The SUN-PERFORM consortium includes leading research and industrial partners, including the University of Bielefeld in Germany, the Politecnico di Torino in Italy, IN SRL Impresa Sociale in Italy, the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, SolarFoil BV in the Netherlands and the Max Planck Society in Germany. Testing will be carried out at demonstration sites in the Netherlands and Morocco, with the Moroccan site being specifically chosen to test the technology’s performance under high solar activity conditions.
SUN-PERFORM technology will combine advanced nanocrystals designed to maximise light capture with genetically modified microalgae optimised for solar fuel production. The aim is to quadruple the efficiency of converting solar energy into fuel, making it suitable for scalable industrial applications.
The S2B project is coordinated by the University of Turku in Finland (Turun yliopisto — UTU). The technology focuses on the direct conversion of solar energy and atmospheric CO₂ into butanol, a renewable fuel, using genetically modified photosynthetic microorganisms and advanced natural (nano)materials. The consortium develops solid-state photosynthetic biocatalysts manufactured by 3D printing hybrid films. These films — functional hydrogel-based materials — are embedded with photosynthetic cells. These durable and sustainable biomanufacturing platforms are designed to significantly improve the efficiency of converting light into fuel while capturing CO₂.
The partners of the S2B project are seven leading research organisations and one innovation consultancy from across Europe: the University of Nantes in France (Nantes Université), the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden (Kungliga Tekniska högskolan), the Åbo Academy in Finland (Åbo Akademi), the VU Foundation in the Netherlands, the University of Twente in the Netherlands (Universiteit Twente), the Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland (Lappeenrannan–Lahden teknillinen yliopisto) and ERDYN Consultants in France.
The S2B project will develop prototype systems at TRL4 (technology proven in laboratory conditions) level, with demonstration sites located in Turku, Finland and Nantes, France. Demonstrations of both projects will take place in 2028, with the aim of commercial production by 2029 or 2030.