EIFER at EUBCE: Advancing sustainable maritime fuels

EIFER contributed to two successful workshops at the 34th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE), focusing on sustainable fuels.
During the session “Decarbonizing the Seas – Advanced Biofuels for the Maritime Sector”, Dr. Julian Dailly, coordinator of the POSEIDON project, assisted by project partner Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, presented the project’s progress and vision. They highlighted the pioneering use of e-methanol as a marine fuel, showcasing solutions across the entire value chain. Together with M²ARE, COCPIT, SEAFAIRER, and NextFuel, the workshop enabled an open and productive discussion with the audience on technological synergies, regulatory frameworks for navigation, and supply chain integration.

The workshop “Sustainable fuels: deployment, lessons learned, and policy recommendations”, organised the second day together with ABATE, REFOLUTION, SUNFUSION and FUELPHORIA, focused on specific EU legislation, feedstocks in Europe, innovation in biomass and follow-up of the projects. Maria Georgiadou, senior expert on renewable energy R&I policy at the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation), also participated to this session, to appreciate the strategic aspects of the different projects and to give her vision on the evolution of sustainable fuels. Maria heads the strategic orientation for research and innovation in Renewable Fuels, Biofuels and Bioenergy and the development and implementation of relevant programs and policies under the European Union’s Framework programs.

Key takeaways of both workshops included the importance of feedstock availability and optimization, hydrogen sourcing / integration, and port infrastructure readiness to accelerate the decarbonization of the maritime sector.