Decarbonising sectors such as aviation, heavy industry and large-scale transport requires alternatives to fossil fuels that can be produced sustainably and at industrial scale. At the same time, significant amounts of industrial CO₂ emissions and bio-based residues remain underutilised across Europe’s industrial and agricultural sectors. ToFuel addresses this challenge by developing integrated pathways that transform industrial carbon emissions and biological waste streams into sustainable renewable fuels.
The project focuses on demonstrating how industrial CO₂ and bio-based feedstocks can become valuable resources within circular fuel production systems rather than remaining waste streams. By connecting industrial decarbonisation with renewable fuel generation, ToFuel supports Europe’s transition towards more sustainable and circular energy systems.
What is ToFuel about?
ToFuel focuses on producing sustainable renewable fuels using industrial CO₂ emissions and bio-based residual materials.
The project develops integrated fuel production pathways that combine carbon capture, renewable energy integration and advanced conversion technologies to generate renewable fuels with lower environmental impact. Instead of relying solely on conventional fossil-based feedstocks, ToFuel explores how industrial carbon emissions and organic residues can contribute to future fuel production systems.
A central aspect of the project is the integration of multiple feedstock sources and conversion technologies within a circular economy framework. Industrial CO₂ streams, agricultural residues and other biological waste materials are treated as valuable inputs capable of supporting renewable fuel production while reducing overall waste and emissions.
The project also focuses on improving the scalability and deployment readiness of sustainable fuel production systems. Demonstration and validation activities assess technical performance, sustainability impacts and industrial feasibility under real operational conditions.
Particular attention is given to sectors where direct electrification remains difficult, including aviation and energy-intensive industries that require sustainable fuel alternatives to reduce emissions. Through its integrated approach, ToFuel aims to support cleaner fuel production pathways capable of contributing to long-term industrial and transport decarbonisation objectives.
Beyond technical innovation, the project explores sustainability assessment, circularity impacts and replication potential to support wider adoption across Europe.
Why ToFuel matters
Reducing emissions from aviation, heavy industry and other hard-to-abate sectors remains one of Europe’s major decarbonisation challenges. Sustainable renewable fuels are expected to play an important role in addressing this challenge, but scaling production while ensuring sustainability and resource efficiency remains complex.
ToFuel contributes to addressing this issue by demonstrating how industrial emissions and bio-based residues can support circular renewable fuel production systems. By transforming waste streams into valuable energy resources, the project helps reduce emissions, improve resource utilisation and support cleaner industrial and transport systems.
Through integrated fuel production pathways and circular resource use, ToFuel supports Europe’s broader transition towards climate-neutral and sustainable energy systems.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101235233.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
