On 19 May 2026, the NextFuel project participated in a synergetic action with four EU-funded sister projects — M2ARE, COCPIT, SEA FAIRER, and POSEIDON — during the European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE 2026), held in The Hague.
The joint workshop, titled “Decarbonizing the Seas”, took place at the Exhibition Forum from 16:15 to 18:30 and brought together leading Horizon Europe projects working on innovative solutions for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. NextFuel was represented by CERTH, which presented the project’s progress and contribution to the development of advanced biofuels and sustainable marine fuel pathways.
The workshop provided a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge, presenting recent achievements, and exploring synergies among projects that share a common ambition: supporting the transition of the global shipping sector towards a carbon-neutral future.
During the session, the participating projects showcased their latest developments in areas such as the use of biogenic CO₂ and renewable hydrogen for methanol production, thermochemical waste-to-value conversion, and the development of credible pathways for the large-scale uptake of methanol and other sustainable fuels in shipping.
Following the project presentations, a panel discussion and Q&A session enabled an open exchange between project representatives, stakeholders, and the audience. The discussion focused on key technological and market challenges, including current Technology Readiness Level progress, feedstock innovation, decision-support tools, and the steps needed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and large-scale industrial implementation.
A central message of the workshop was the importance of collaboration and cross-project synergies. Maritime decarbonisation requires coordinated action across technologies, value chains, infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and industrial stakeholders. By working together, projects such as NextFuel, M2ARE, COCPIT, SEA FAIRER, and POSEIDON can strengthen the impact of their innovations, address shared challenges linked to FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS, and contribute to the development of integrated supply chains for future sustainable marine fuels.
Through its participation in this joint workshop, NextFuel reinforced its commitment to knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative action towards a net-zero emissions future for shipping.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101136225.
