NET-Fuels - Integrating negative emission technologies in biofuels production

NET-Fuels is a pioneering EU-funded research and innovation project that demonstrates a complete lab-scale process chain for climate-positive fuel production. The system integrates multiple technologies - each of which can also operate independently in diverse contexts - to produce valuable outputs such as bio-oil, hydrogen, synthetic methane, and certified biochar starting with biogenic residues. At the core of NET-Fuels is the modular combination of Thermocatalytic Reforming (TCR®), non-oxidative use of biochar to achieve Biochar Carbon Storage (BCS), and oxyfuel combustion. Fraunhofer UMSICHT is responsible for developing and testing the pyrolysis and oxyfuel subsystems, converting biogenic residues into syngas, stable biochar, and oil. Hydrogen is separated from the syngas via Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption (VPSA), while the remaining tail gas is used in oxyfuel combustion to recover energy and capture CO₂ with a purity of 97%. The oxygen required for combustion is supplied by Leitat’s Bioelectrochemical Methanation (BEM) system, which simultaneously produces synthetic methane from the captured CO2 - closing the carbon loop. The TCR®-oil can be upgraded to fully equivalent substitutes for gasoline and diesel - compliant with European standards EN228 and EN590, which has been established in previous research projects. The technical process integration is ongoing; thus, the paper shows preliminary results.