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reFuel.ch 5th Round Table Highlights Policy, Investment, and Technology Challenges for Sustainable Fuels

On March 5th, representatives of the SWEET Consortium reFuel.ch initiative joined around 70 participants for the fifth Round Table in Winterthur. The event brought together researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to exchange insights on emerging energy technologies and market developments in sustainable fuels.
March 5, 2026
Lively discussions at a poster session brought researchers, industry experts, and policymakers together in Winterthur.
Lively discussions at a poster session brought researchers, industry experts, and policymakers together in Winterthur.

The meeting gathered approximately 30 representatives from the public and private sectors and 40 researchers from the SWEET Consortium, creating a dynamic platform for exchange between academia, industry, and policy stakeholders.

Following an inspiring keynote by Transport & Environment, participants engaged in lively discussions on current and future challenges across the sustainable fuels landscape. Interactive “market stall” sessions invited deeper dialogue among participants, strengthening the link between innovation, regulation, and real-world application.

A key topic was pyrolysis technology, which is considered one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving fields, with several demonstration plants already operational worldwide. While both industry experts and representatives from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) acknowledge its potential, it is currently expected to play only a limited role in Switzerland’s future energy mix. Participants also addressed certification frameworks and the trading of Guarantees of Origin in emerging market hubs. Discussions spanned areas such as Power-to-X pathways, plastic and methane pyrolysis, fuel import challenges, synthetic fuels policy analysis, and country risk evaluation.

Financial aspects sparked particular interest. Despite promising technologies, high investment risks and mismatched contract durations continue to challenge market growth. Many participants emphasized the need for de-risking instruments such as Contracts for Difference.

Policy and geopolitical considerations added another layer to the dialogue. Reliance on fuel imports, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandates, and competition with sectors like road transport remain pressing issues. While biofuel startups may initially target less regulated markets, participants noted that a clear policy framework and stronger investment incentives will be essential for wider SAF adoption.

Finally, the discussions emphasized the indispensable role of science in driving industrial innovation. Academic institutions provide advanced analytical tools and robust modeling capabilities, delivering data-driven insights that inform decision-making from feasibility studies through to implementation. Their ability to act as neutral facilitators across these phases makes academic partners essential in accelerating the translation of innovation into industrial practice.

See the documentation of the 5th round talbe here: Link

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Research Paper Energy & Environmental Science
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Haber–Bosch 2.0 for low-carbon ammonia production: a global techno-economic and environmental assessment

Decentralized ammonia production via electric Haber–Bosch (Haber–Bosch 2.0) could support shipping, chemical manufacturing, and local fertilizer supply chains. Unlike conventional Haber–Bosch systems, Haber–Bosch 2.0 technologies operate at lower pressures (∼30–60 bar) and temperatures (∼400 °C), enabling smaller, modular ammonia systems powered by low-carbon electricity. However, its economic viability and environmental performance under diverse conditions remain unclear. Here, we apply techno-economic and environmental life cycle assessment using a novel, open-source framework to optimally design ∼13 000 grid-connected, hybrid, and off-grid electric Haber–Bosch configurations worldwide. Our results demonstrate that decentralized ammonia production costs are between €740–4100 tNH3−1, which is substantially higher compared to centralized ammonia production (∼300 tNH3−1 historically with recent spikes up to ∼€800 tNH3−1). Hybrid configurations exhibit the lowest costs (€740–2090 tNH3−1), particularly in regions with low grid electricity prices, low capital costs, and/or abundant renewables. However, their GHG emissions vary widely depending on the GHG intensity of the local grid. Off-grid systems exhibit the lowest life cycle GHG emissions (on average 0.70 tCO2-eq. tNH3−1), but demonstrate high costs (more than €1100 tNH3−1), driven by oversized renewables and energy storage media to enable continuous Haber–Bosch operation. Cost parity may be achieved by 2050 through technology learning, especially for hybrid systems (€325 tNH3−1). To realize this potential and secure low-carbon fertilizer supply, policymakers should; (1) accelerate the decarbonization of national power grids, (2) provide early-stage deployment support for flexible, electric Haber–Bosch technologies, and (3) establish clear certification standards for low-carbon ammonia.
July 23, 2026
blog post of reFuel
The FOCA Aviation and Climate Funding Programme supports innovative projects to reduce aviation emissions—particularly in the field of renewable synthetic aviation fuels.
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Strong interest in FOCA Aviation and Climate Funding Programme

More than 50 participants joined a reFuel.ch coordination meeting to exchange insights and explore collaboration opportunities ahead of the upcoming call.
July 10, 2026
blog post of reFuel
Research Paper Energy & Fuels
Papers

Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of Alternative Fuels and Carbon Capture in Swiss Gas-Fired Power Plants

Carbon-neutral energy systems will rely heavily on electrification and intermittent renewables, thereby increasing the need for flexible technologies such as gas turbines. Using alternative fuels in gas turbines could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support net-zero goals, but their full life-cycle emissions impact has not been evaluated yet. This study presents a prospective life cycle assessment (LCA) of simple cycle gas turbines (SCGTs) in Switzerland, evaluating their performance with various alternative fuels and the potential integration of carbon capture technologies. The analysis considers domestically produced biomethane (from wood chips or biogas) and four e-fuels─e-hydrogen, e-methane, e-ammonia, and e-Fischer-Tropsch (e-FT) fuels─synthesized in regions with cost-effective renewable electricity in Spain, Iceland, and the Netherlands. Regarding carbon capture, we investigate both storage (CCS) and utilization (CCU), considering storage sites in Italy and Norway. The assessment covers multiple impact categories across 2035 and 2050. The results show that domestic biomethane provides a practical and climate-friendly option, reducing life-cycle climate impacts by nearly 80% in the near term and approaching 90% in the long term. In contrast, e-methane does not exceed an 80% reduction in the long term even under its most favorable production pathways. Both biomethane and e-methane can offer net-negative emissions if combined with CCS. Domestic CCU does not offer any environmental advantage if liquefying and transporting hydrogen (H2), instead of directly importing e-methane via pipeline. Multimodal transport increases environmental impacts compared to pipeline transport across several categories. Beyond climate impacts, alternative fuel production introduces trade-offs across most categories compared with natural gas. This study underscores that minimizing greenhouse gas emissions alone is insufficient and that system-level assessments are essential to minimize overall environmental impacts in future flexible power systems.
July 23, 2026
blog post of reFuel
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