From 14 to 16 May 2025, SUNER-C organized a series of events in Brussels (Belgium) to mark the end of the project, highlighting the various achievements realized, and outlining a path forward to accelerate the development of sustainable fuels and chemicals. These events included a Policy Dinner at the European Parliament, the 3rd SUNER-C General Assembly and the 7th SUNER-C Consortium Meeting.
Policy Dinner at the European Parliament
On 14 May, the SUNERGY Policy Dinner brought together EU policymakers, researchers and industry representatives to discuss how sustainable fuels and chemicals can contribute to the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal (CID).
Hosted by Stefan Köhler, Member of the European Parliament, the event underscored the strategic importance of fossil-free sustainable fuels and chemicals for Europe’s climate objectives, competitiveness, and energy resilience. The programme featured keynote contributions from:
- Beatrice Coda (Head of Unit, Clean Energy Transitions – DG Research & Innovation, European Commission) who spoke about the importance of research and innovation in driving the CID.
- Tudy Bernier (Policy Director, CO2 Value Europe) who offered industry’s perspective on scale-up needs and market challenges.
- Bert Weckhuysen (Professor, Utrecht University, SUNER-C Coordinator) who shared insights from his recent Nature paper and editorial article:“The refinery of the future.”
- Pedro Francisco (Policy Officer, DG MOVE, European Commission) who outlined key policy needs for advancing sustainable aviation fuels.
The discussions emphasized the critical need to scale up technologies, establish robust supply chains, and integrate sustainable fuels and chemicals into EU industrial policy. The evening concluded with an interactive session, during which attendees contributed questions and reflections.
3rd SUNER-C General Assembly
The project’s Final Conference took place on 15 May. It opened with remarks from SUNER-C coordinators Prof. Bert Weckhuysen and Dr. Frédéric Chandezon, followed by a keynote address from Dr. Nicola Armaroli (CNR) emphasizing the role of solar fuels in a climate-neutral future.
Further discussions included a joint presentation by WP1 and WP3 leaders with industry stakeholders on the SUNERGY Roadmap and Blueprint, outlining the initiative’s long-term vision. The SUNER-C advocacy team also delivered insights from the recent parliamentary dinner, summarizing the key topics discussed and conclusions.
All previous speakers participated in a panel discussion addressing the future of solar fuels and chemicals as well as the next steps for SUNERGY.
The 3rd General Assembly concluded with a creative session led by designer Jacob de Baan. Contributing his unique approach to integrating sustainability into design thinking within the project, he introduced probes intended to stimulate discussion and debate.
7th SUNER-C Consortium Meeting
On the last day, project partners reconvened for the final Consortium Meeting. The session focused on presenting final work package updates, wrapping up deliverables and reviewing administrative and financial reporting.
Frédéric Chandezon concluded by encouraging to continue building on the SUNER-C path through future projects aligned with Horizon Europe and the Clean Industrial Deal, and thanked all partners for their contributions to the project since its launch. Hence, the SUNER-C program provided a breeding ground for new public-private initiatives, as well as for shaping the necessary legislation and societal support to create a circular society in which solar energy is a key component to make sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials.
