On 5th September 2024, the Webinar “Enhanced Innovative Technologies for a Global Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels” was held online, focusing on the role of innovative technologies in advancing sustainable aviation biofuels (SAF). The session aimed at promoting the global expansion of SAF production, with a special focus on the European Union and Mission Innovation countries, including Brazil, India, and Canada. The event was aligned with the IEA Bioenergy TCP Task 39, emphasizing optimal methodologies and frameworks for SAF production and market access across the entire value chain.

ICARUS partners were key players in the webinar, with insightful contributions from several members. The moderator, Franziska Müller-Langer, Head of the Department of Biorefineries at DBFZ and National Team Leader at IEA Bioenergy TCP Task 39, was joined by Myrsini Christou, Head of the Biomass Department at CRES and ICARUS Project Coordinator, and Kyriakos Maniatis, an independent consultant and ICARUS partner. Together, they shared their expertise on the ICARUS project’s objectives and its alignment with IEA Bioenergy Task 39 activities, as well as frameworks aimed at producing SAF with low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The webinar highlighted how innovative technologies can reduce aviation's environmental impact while enabling scalable SAF production. It provided a platform for collaboration, reinforcing the ICARUS project’s commitment to advancing low-emission solutions for sustainable aviation fuels and supporting global carbon reduction goals.

The recording and presentation are available here.

The 3rd General Assembly of the ICARUS Project took place in Trondheim on 17-18 September 2024 at the NTNU premises, providing a key opportunity for the consortium to meet in person and discuss the project’s progress and future developments.

The meeting brought together consortium members, including experts, researchers, and stakeholders, to engage in detailed discussions on ongoing work, address challenges, and strategize the next steps. This in-person gathering was essential for strengthening collaboration and enhancing the overall understanding of the project’s progress.

In addition to the productive discussions, the assembly featured insightful visits to several significant research facilities: SINTEF Energy Lab, SINTEF Thermal Energy Lab, NTNU’s Combustion Lab, and NTNU’s Chemical Engineering Lab.

These visits offered hands-on exposure to the technologies and methods central to the ICARUS Project and provided valuable insights for future research and development.

The combination of engaging discussions and informative lab visits helped foster a deeper understanding of the project’s key areas and opened up new opportunities for collaboration. It also provided a chance to strengthen relationships within the consortium, ensuring that everyone remains aligned as the project moves forward.

With the momentum gained from the General Assembly and the knowledge shared, the ICARUS team is poised to continue making significant progress. This event in Trondheim was a pivotal moment in ensuring the project remains on track to meet its ambitious goals, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and innovation in achieving success.

The ICARUS Workshop on "International R&I Cooperation on Sustainable Aviation Fuels" took place on 23 October 2024, from 14:30 to 16:00 at the Renaissance Hotel Convention Center in São Paulo, Brazil, as part of the BBEST & IEA Bioenergy Conference.

The BBEST – IEA Bioenergy 2024 Conference, held from 22-24 October 2024, served as an important event for discussing innovations and developments in bioenergy. The ICARUS workshop, along with the participation of several ICARUS partners, aimed to disseminate the project’s activities and results to stakeholders from the international Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) sector, with a special focus on Mission Innovation Country Brazil, and the broader IEA Bioenergy research and innovation community.

During the workshop, collaboration links were strengthened with Brazilian ICARUS associated partners, SENAI-RN and SENAI-CIMATEC, as well as with the Horizon Europe project BioTheRoS. BioTheRoS focuses on accelerating the production of sustainable biofuels through thermochemical conversion technologies, aligning with ICARUS’s objectives to promote sustainable aviation fuel solutions.

The workshop proved to be an essential platform for discussing international cooperation in R&I on SAF, fostering valuable connections, and advancing the development of low-emission biofuels for aviation.

The workshop agenda and presentations are available here.

ICARUS supported the Sustainable Aviation Fuels – Time for Take-off Conference in Athens, with strong participation, including four presentations. The conference aimed to introduce international, EU, and national policies on SAF, as well as key innovative technologies, including those developed under ICARUS. It was organized jointly by ICARUS coordinator Myrsini Christou of CRES and Kyriakos Maniatis, under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece.

Some of the key messages from the conference were:

For more information, please visit the conference website  

In November 2024, the ICARUS Project proudly released its first official video, showcasing our mission to revolutionize aviation through innovative Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production routes. The video highlights our focus on three key SAF technologies: biocrude from hydrothermal liquefaction, isobutanol from lignocellulosic biomass, and synthetic Fischer-Tropsch fuels via biomass gasification.

Check the video here