From 19-22 May 2026, the SEAFAIRER team took part in the 34th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (EUBCE), hosted at the World Forum in The Hague. The conference brought together leading experts from research, industry and policy to discuss how sustainable biomass can drive the decarbonisation of energy, transport and the wider economy. SEAFAIRER was strongly represented on the exhibition floor, with a dedicated project booth highlighting our value chain from biomass feedstock to maritime fuels and the co-processing pathway – as well as a second stand hosted by our partners at FVTR showcasing their thermochemical conversion expertise. Throughout the week, the exhibition provided an excellent platform to engage with bioenergy and transport stakeholders, explore synergies with other European projects, and raise awareness of the role of advanced biofuels in decarbonising shipping.
Parallel event 1 – Biofuels for hard‑to‑decarbonise transport
Together with our partner project ABATE (Advanced Bio‑based Refinery Intermediates), SEAFAIRER co‑organised a parallel event dedicated to biofuels for hard‑to‑decarbonise transport sectors, with a focus on aviation and maritime applications. The session covered the full value chain, from biomass sourcing and conversion to the deployment of sustainable fuels in engines and vessels.
The event brought together three SEAFAIRER partners – DTU, Fraunhofer UMSICHT and Sagava – and three ABATE partners – CERTH, Imperial College London and RISE. Speakers discussed ongoing work on advanced bio‑based intermediates, upgrading strategies, and the challenges of scaling technologies from pilot to first‑of‑a‑kind (FOAK) plants. The discussion highlighted how coordinated research efforts can accelerate investment‑ready solutions for both aviation and maritime fuels.
The session was moderated by Thomas Ammerl and Susanne Hirschmann from BayFOR’s Unit Environment, Energy & Bioeconomy, who also serve on the SEAFAIRER Advisory Board. Their facilitation ensured a dynamic, open exchange on how EU‑funded projects can collectively support industrial uptake and policy development for renewable transport fuels.
Parallel event 2 – Decarbonising the seas: advanced biofuels for maritime
SEAFAIRER also contributed to the second edition of the “Decarbonising the Seas – Advanced Biofuels for the Maritime Sector” forum, organised by the M²ARE and COCPIT projects and featuring contributions from POSEIDON and NextFuel. Building on the first edition held at EUBCE 2025, the session showcased complementary project portfolios working towards low-carbon shipping.
Presentations covered a range of technological pathways, including pyrolysis‑based intermediates, biogenic CO₂ utilisation, and renewable hydrogen routes, as well as progress in technology readiness, feedstock diversification and modelling tools. SEAFAIRER’s contribution focused on technology scale‑up towards first‑of‑a‑kind demonstration plants and on building European production capacity for drop‑in marine biofuels, underlining the importance of integrating conversion, upgrading and logistics across the value chain. By bringing together multiple EU‑funded initiatives in a joint forum, the session underscored the importance of knowledge sharing and alignment of efforts to overcome technical, economic and regulatory barriers to deploying advanced marine biofuels at scale.
Oral session – Methods for Evaluating the Drop-In Suitability of Novel Marine Biofuels Based on Biocrude Oils from Pyrolysis Processes
In the oral session “Methods for Evaluating the Drop-In Suitability of Novel Marine Biofuels Based on Biocrude Oils from Pyrolysis Processes”, Martin Theile (FVTR) briefly introduced SEAFAIRER and FVTR’s approach to testing marine biofuels. He outlined FVTR’s methodology for testing, specifically, the bio-oil and blends produced in SEAFAIRER, emphasising performance‑based evaluation across laboratory rigs, components and marine engines to assess true drop‑in behaviour under realistic operating conditions. This contribution highlighted the importance of linking fuel properties to engine performance and durability when preparing novel bio‑oils for market introduction.
Oral session – Application of pyrolysis products
In the oral session “Application of pyrolysis products”, Robert Daschner (Fraunhofer UMSICHT) presented the demonstration plant for SEAFAIRER’s technology. The presentation introduced the reactor concept, its operating principles and its role within the SEAFAIRER project as a central step towards producing improved intermediates for maritime fuels. The talk highlighted how the reactor design aims to enhance bio‑oil quality and yield, enable stable operation at higher throughputs, and facilitate subsequent upgrading to drop‑in fuels compatible with existing marine engines and infrastructure. This work contributes directly to SEAFAIRER’s objectives of raising technology readiness and demonstrating pathways that can support future industrial deployment.
Looking ahead
EUBCE 2026 offered SEAFAIRER a valuable opportunity to share technical progress, connect with sister projects and industry stakeholders, and contribute to the broader dialogue on sustainable maritime fuels. As the project advances towards pilot‑scale demonstration and further integration of its value chain, SEAFAIRER looks forward to continuing this exchange at EUBCE 2027 in Reims, France!
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