Strategic planning at the 6th SUNER-C Consortium Meeting

On February 12, the SUNER-C partners met at Sorbonne Université for the 6th Consortium Meeting, where they reviewed project progress and outlined long-term goals.

A highlight was a presentation by Philippe Schild (DG-RTD, European Commission), who explained how the planning of the next Horizon Europe’s 2026-27 Work Programme is advancing and its alignment with EU priorities.

The first day concluded with a session focused on defining clear objectives for scaling solar fuel technologies as part of the SUNERGY Blueprint. This work set the stage for the upcoming EIC – SUNERGY Joint Roadmapping event in Brussels on March 26th – 27th, where stakeholders will refine strategies for advancing solar fuels and chemicals.

Multi-perspective dialogue on solar fuels innovation

The next day, the Joint SUNERGY/REFINE Workshop was also held at Sorbonne Université. This practical session had the title: “Innovating Solar Fuels: A Multi-Perspective Discussion on Overcoming Barriers and Creating Pathways to Sustainable Energy Solutions.”

The event explored the sustainable production of isobutanol through artificial photosynthesis, an innovative approach currently being investigated by the REFINE EU project. The discussions extended beyond technology, addressing public acceptance, risk perception and economic feasibility. Participants engaged in an interactive “World Café” methodology, which enhanced the dialogue between academic scientists, engineers, policymakers and industry stakeholders.

Global collaboration at IEA’s headquarters

The final event, held on February 14 at the International Energy Agency (IEA), was a joint workshop between IEA Hydrogen TCP, Mission Innovation and SUNER-C.

The discussions centered on the direct use of sunlight to produce hydrogen and carbon-based molecules. Paul Lucchese from IEA Hydrogen TCP, Philippe Schild representing Mission Innovation and Frédéric Chandezon representing SUNER-C opened the session.

The first part of the day featured presentations from Bill Tumas (NREL/Mission Innovation), Ann Magnuson (Uppsala University/SUNER-C), and Carina Faber (EIC). They provided a broad perspective on solar fuels, emphasizing their role in future energy systems. Speakers also introduced the SUNER-C agenda, outlining its vision for a climate-neutral future and explored solar fuel technologies and their industrial applications.

Amalia Pizarro (IEA) followed with a presentation on “Net-Zero & Sunlight to X,” highlighting the role of solar fuels in achieving global climate goals.

The core of the event was structured around three key panel discussions tackling critical challenges in solar fuel research and application:

1. Integration of Solar Fuels into Industrial and Energy Systems – Experts debated the viability of scaling solar fuels for widespread adoption. This pannel was moderated by Muriel Matheron (CEA) and Joachim John (Imec).
2. Business Models and Competitiveness – Led by Philippe Schild (Mission Innovation, European Commission) and Alberto Giaconia (ENEA), panelists examined the economic landscape of hydrogen production versus carbon-based fuels.
3. Accelerating Research and Innovation (R&I) through International Collaboration – Discussions highlighted ways to fast-track innovation through cross-border cooperation. This last pannel was Moderated by Ann Magnuson (Uppsala University) & Teo Martin (ENEA).

The workshop concluded with a summary on the challenges and opportunities in solar-driven fuel innovation. Experts emphasized the importance of continued collaboration, investment in research and policy support to accelerate the development of solar fuel technologies.

With a day full of insights and dialogue, the event at IEA reinforced the growing significance of solar fuels in shaping a sustainable energy future.

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Download The future of Solar-to-X report here.

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The document summarizes the event that took place on 4 and 5 June 2024, organized by the EIC (European Innovation Council) together with EnergyVille (where the sessions were hosted), imec, EuroTech Universities Alliance, SUNERGY and several-EU funded projects: CATART, CO₂NDOR, FlowPhotoChem, and SUNER-C.

The event joined over 130 people to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art in technologies such as Solar-to-X, Power-to-X and CCU. The main ideas and discussions held by speakers, round table panels and participatory Q&A sessions are included, aiming to serve as a support document for guiding policymakers and decision-makers across Europe, highlighting the achievements of researchers and accelerating the commercialization of early-stage discoveries.

Abstract:

In our shift towards a sustainable future, rethinking the production of materials, chemicals and fuels is essential. Renewable resources – such as energy, water, and abundant molecules like carbon dioxide – offer significant potential to transform the global chemical and manufacturing sectors. The European Innovation Council (EIC) is committed to this transformative path, supporting it through various funding initiatives. Funding alone isn’t enough; a robust solar fuels innovation ecosystem is crucial for accelerating progress.

To address this, the EIC hosted a two-day Solar-to-X Innovation event on 4-5 June 2024. Over 130 delegates, including academics, start-ups, industry leaders, policymakers and investors from Europe and the US, gathered to discuss advancements from cutting-edge research to market-ready technologies. The event featured talks, panels, pitches and open discussions on the full spectrum of innovation—from academic breakthroughs to technology scaling and integration into existing energy systems. It represented a unique occasion to spark conversations and catalyze ideas around the future role of CCU, Power-to-X, and Solar-to-X technologies in the European energy system. This report provides a summary of the event’s sessions and key outcomes, offering insights into the current state of the field and ways to foster technology transfer and innovation.

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Read the full article here: 

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The analysis shared in the report will help inform future explorations of the EIC portfolio, mapping internal EIC data to global trends based on patents, publications, funding and investments.

Download the EIC Tech Report 2023 here.

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The European Energy Research Alliance’s Annual Report 2022

EERA has been a permanent driving force in the EU energy research ecosystem. Over the last years it has demonstrated a significant widening and deepening of its activities to better embrace the complexity of the Clean Energy Transition…

Read EERA's full report

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Science, Research and Innovation Performance of the EU 2022

The Commission has released the 2022 edition of this document analysing the EU’s innovation performance in a global context. It provides insights into how research and innovation policies can help build an inclusive, sustainable, competitive and resilient Europe by leveraging the essential role of research and innovation as a source of prosperity and as a catalyst for change. The report also highlights how the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine call for Europe to reinforce its preparedness to quickly and adequately react to new, unexpected challenges.

Read the SRIP Report

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Study on ‘Solar Fuels Research & Invest: Defining and developing the global solar fuel value chain: techno-economic analysis and pathways for sustainable pathways for sustainable implementation’

This European Commission funded study provides a technoeconomic analysis of global solar fuel value chains and pathways for sustainable implementation, including: a techno-economic analysis of worldwide solar fuel value chains; a technological development roadmap for 2030 and 2050 and economic roadmap to 2100 as well as a market outlook mapping the full potential of solar fuels for 2050 and 2100; the International Solar Fuels Forum; and the organisation of an international conference on solar fuels.

Study on Solar Fuels Research & Invest

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Innovation Challenge 5: Converting Sunlight into Solar Fuels and Chemicals Roadmap 2020-2050

This Innovation Challenge “Converting Sunlight into Solar Fuels and Chemicals” Roadmap 2020–2050 highlights the scientific and technical challenges and opportunities for international cooperation to accelerate the development and deployment of new solar conversion technologies worldwide. It identifies major research and innovation needs for a number of solar fuels technology pathways.

IC5: Converting Sunlight into Solar Fuels & Chemicals Roadmap 2020-2050

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Energy-X Research Needs Report

How can we move towards sustainable production of fuels and chemicals in Europeand mitigate climate change? 

The ENERGY-X report provides a scientific roadmap towards sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. It is the result of a three-day workshop, integrating the knowledge of more than 150 scientists and stakeholders. The report highlights scientific challenges in twelve areas integral to realising sustainable fuels and chemicals, and points to the related research needs from a scientific, industrial and societal perspective.

Energy-X Research Needs Report

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