About reFuel.ch
In line with Switzerland's vision of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 we aim at developing robust pathways for sustainable fuels and platform chemicals.
About reFuel.ch
In line with Switzerland's vision of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 we aim at developing robust pathways for sustainable fuels and platform chemicals.
OUR MISSION
Developing robust and practical pathways for introducing sustainable fuels and platform chemicals to markets and the Swiss energy system (including unused domestic biomass).
WHY & WHEN
The estimated demand for renewable fuels is 30-60 TWh per year by 2050 according to the Energy Perspectives 2050+ by the SFOE. To be able to meet this demand, a fast scale-up of sustainable fuel production is needed.
While first-generation technologies are available to initiate a ramp-up of the production of those substances, this is less the case for policies, laws, regulations, and markets (non-technical aspects).
A first aim of the reFuel.ch consortium is to investigate how investment security can be improved by closing these knowledge gaps. A second aim is to strengthen innovative technologies currently at low technology readiness level.
To comply with the timeline of Swiss net-zero greenhouse gas emission target, an accelerated market development of sustainable fuels and platform chemicals is necessary.
HOW WE DO IT
Technology,
Policy & Markets
With an inter- and transdisciplinary approach, we make the necessary tools available and refine technologies to increase their efficiency.
reFuel.ch is divided into an implementation-oriented part, which focuses on policy and market readiness, and a technology-oriented part, which focuses on next-generation technologies with improved efficiency, selectivity, and load flexibility.
OUR MAIN GOALS
Reaching Our Goals in Four Transdisciplinary Steps
Fostering the dialogue with policy makers, regulators, market actors, and end users - via regular thematic Round Table discussions.
Evaluating and co-designing case studies for domestic, European, and non-European implementations.
Strengthening innovative technologies with breakthrough potential for sustainable fuel and platform chemical production by increasing efficiency, selectivity, and load-flexibility.
Accelerating market development of sustainable fuels and platform chemicals by combining inputs from social science (sociology, law, economics, and political science), natural sciences, and engineering.
Facts and Myths
Check Your Knowledge
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about and reFuel.ch.
Myth 1
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Myth 2
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Myth 3
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Myth 4
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Myth 5
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TIMELINE
Our Most Important Milestones
reFuel.ch held its kick-off event on 8 December 2023. As the clock is ticking for climate-friendly solutions, the consortium aims to develop robust supply paths for sustainable fuels and platform chemicals for Switzerland until 2029.
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TESTIMONIALS
Unser Projekt hat einen echten Mehrwert für die Gesellschaft.
Max Mustermann
CEO, Beispielunternehmen
Die Forschungsergebnisse von reFuel.ch sind beeindruckend.
Erika Musterfrau
Leiterin, Musterfirma
WORK PACKAGES
Our Way Forward
reFuel.ch consists of 7 work packages including inputs from social science, natural sciences, engineering, and relevant stakeholders.
Workpackage 1
Social, Economic, and Policy Assessment on National Level
WP1 has the task to assess the social, economic, and policy measures and impacts by applying the perspective of social science and humanities aiming at increasing the policy readiness level of the high-TRL technologies. Thereby the project ensures that an implementation of robust pathways for meeting future Swiss demands for fuels and platform chemicals, in a sustainable way, can be realized.
Objectives
- Develop policy instruments to enable the deployment of sustainable fuels and platform chemicals in Switzerland.
- Quantify the socio-economic impacts of using sustainable fuels and platform chemicals in Switzerland.
- Assess the social acceptance of different technological pathways and related environmental and socio-economic impacts in Switzerland.
- Assess farmers’ acceptance of manure use in the energy system and identify legal and organizational constraints.
Duration:
2024-2029
Leader:
USI (Ilaria Espa)Workpackage 2
Social, Economic, and Policy Assessment on International Level
WP2 has the task to contribute to the assessment of robust pathways considering the international policy instruments. Further, the research contributes to the development of an interdisciplinary understanding of robust pathways by assessing the socio-economic implications and related but indirect impacts on land use and food security on potential exporting countries as well as on international markets.
Objectives
- Assessment of the international law and policy landscape relevant to SFPC
- SFPC-relevant country risk analysis
- International trade in SFPC
- Identify impacts on selected exporting countries
- Impact on international agricultural markets
- Data harmonization and synthesis
Duration:
2024-2028
Leader:
UBA-LUC (Ruth Delzeit)Workpackage 3
Modeling of Robust Transition Paths
The transition towards a sustainable energy system that meets Switzerland's greenhouse gas emission targets requires a feasible pathway that encompasses all sectors of the energy system. In WP3, we aim to determine robust transition scenarios towards these goals, including the production/provision of sustainable fuels and platform chemicals in the required quantities. This goal is achieved through a holistic energy system analysis using the Swiss Energy System Modelling Framework. This plays a central role by connecting technical developments and socio-economic boundary conditions and quantifying their impact and benefits on the transformation of the Swiss energy system, including fuels and chemicals supply.
Objectives
- Harmonization of proven models and contributions
– Formation of the Swiss Energy System Modelling Framework
– Scenario definition for the model framework - Determination of robust transition paths for Switzerland and dissemination strategies: Application to selected case studies (e.g., the Iberian Peninsula and Oman).
Duration:
2024-2029
Leader:
Empa-UESL (Robin Mutschler)Workpackage 4
CO2-Electrolysis for Synthesis Gas Production
WP4 targets the assembly of an ambitious lab-scale co-electrolyzer. The electrochemical production of carbon monoxide (CO) via co-electrolysis offers a promising pathway to higher efficiency and can be implemented in smaller, decentralized installations analogous to water electrolyzers. Despite the high appeal of these co-electrolyzers and recent scientific advances in their development, their operative current density, product output and lifetime are too low for economic feasibility.
Objectives
- Understand how the interplay among diffusion- and catalyst layer and the bi-plolar membrane affects the performance and stability of co-electrolyzers.
- Attain reliable co-electrolysis operation at ≥ 1.00 A∙cm−2, ≤ 3.5 Vcell and 100 % CO2-to-CO selectivity for ≥ 1’000 h
- Upscale this co-electrolyzer design with optimized performance and durability from the current active area of 4 cm2 to 200 cm2, as to reach a single cell product output of ≥ 100 gCO∙h−1.
Duration:
2024-2029
Leader:
PSI-LEC (Juan Herranz)Workpackage 5
High-Conversion and Load-Flexible Methanol Synthesis
WP5 has the task to demonstrate an alternative methanol production concept: State-of-the-art methanol production is done via the reforming of fossil natural gas for the production of synthesis gas (CO and H2) as feed for the hydrogenation reaction. Changing the feed to CO2 and hydrogen to shift to renewable energies and CO2-neutral production requires process and catalyst adaption and coupling the methanol production with renewable electricity supply demands for dynamic load and part-load flexibility of the methanol plant.
Objectives
- Identifying the best sorption-enhanced catalytic approaches for efficient methanol synthesis from CO2 pursuing a high per-pass conversion and high selectivity
- Developing a selective, stable, and economic catalyst system
- Designing a reactor and process for flexible operation
- Demonstrating the sorption-enhanced reactor system on a laboratory scale
Duration:
2024-2028
Leader:
Empa-APTL (Florian Kiefer)Workpackage 6
Manure to Sustainable Fuels and Platform Chemicals
WP6 investigates direct hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of manure and digestate to sustainable fuel to exploit manure’s energetic and fertilizer potential. Since the process produces CO2 as well, the project develops the sorbent-enhanced fluidized bed methanol synthesis, optimized for small, decentralized plants. In addition, the project develops Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the different pathways. WP3 is strongly related to other sub-projects in reFuel.ch, namely WP1 and WP3, but also to WP5 and WP6.
Objectives
- Evaluation of spatial (logistical) constraints of manure use and LCA to assess different manure pathways
- Development of direct, H2-assisted, HTL of manure and digestate to SF
- Development of sorbent-enhanced fluidized bed methanol synthesis
Duration:
2024-2027
Leader:
ETH-ESD (Vanessa Burg)Workpackage 7
Methanol to Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals
WP7 aims at the conversion of sustainable methanol to kerosine and sustainable platform chemicals, focusing on the development of suitable catalysts and optimal reaction conditions. The main objectives of catalyst development are high activity, selectivity, and optimum stability of the catalysts at minimum cost. One aspect is the investigation of innovative reaction concepts such as inductively heated reactors and sorption-enhanced synthesis. These concepts can reduce production costs, as they offer better energy efficiency, higher conversion and less product processing steps. The intermediates of the methanol route are the platform chemicals ethylene and propylene, which can be used as feedstocks for the production of plastics and many chemicals. Therefore, WP7 will investigate the potential of methanol, ethylene, propylene and higher olefins as sustainable platform chemicals.
Objectives
- Development of catalysts for the production of sustainable platform chemicals and fuels from methanol.
- Development of catalytic processes to produce sustainable fuels or olefins as platform chemicals from methanol with these catalysts.
- Identification of sustainable platform chemicals that meet the needs of the chemical industry.
Duration:
2024-2027
Leader:
PSI-LBK (Oliver Kröcher)CONSORTIUM & PARTNERS
Swiss Federal Laboratories for
Materials Science and Technology
Materials Science and Technology
Paul Scherrer Institute
Federal Institute of
Technology Zurich
Technology Zurich
Swiss Federal Institute
of Technology Lausanne
of Technology Lausanne
University of
Italian Switzerland
Italian Switzerland
University of Basel
University of Applied Sciences
Northwestern Switzerland
Northwestern Switzerland
University of Applied Sciences
and Arts of Southern Switzerland
and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Zurich University of
Applied Sciences
Applied Sciences
Plants for a new planet
ABB
Accelleron
Airborn Fuels
Alphasynt
ARCS
armasuisse
Arxada
ASTAG
Avenergy
Axpo
Azienda Multiservizi Bellinzona
BASF
Basler & Hofmann
Beetron
Biomasse Suisse
Burckhardt Compression
Canton GR
Canton TI
Canton ZH
Climeworks
Collaboration Design
eFuel Alliance
electrosuisse
Embassy of Switzerland to Oman and Yemen
Energie360
Engageability
Ergocomprendere AG
ewb
ExaCORR
Farner
Federal Office of Civil Aviation
Finomics
Fraunhofer-IEE
Fritz Meyer
GE Vernova
GEVAG
GF
Group Curie
Hitachi Zosen Innova
Holcim
Iberian Centre for Research in Energy Storage (CIIAE)
IFEC ingegneria
IMERYS
INERATEC
International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC)
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
KIT-IMVT
Lonza
MAN Energy Solutions
Metafuels
Migros
NCCR Cat
Ökostrom Schweiz
Oman MEM
OmanLNG
OQAE
OSFA
Pilatus
PLANAIR
Risikodialog
RWTH
Shell
SOHAR Industrial Port Company
solarbelt
SPIN
Steinmann Consulting
Strickhof
Sulzer
Swiss
Swiss Re
Swissmem
Synhelion
Tech Cluster Zug
TES
Timberger AG
TU Delft
University Zürich
VSE
VSG
VzDI
WinGD