This report investigates the current status and trend of Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO),
except hydrogen, which are needed to cover part of the EU’s demand renewable fuels in the coming years. Most
of the conversion technologies investigated here have been already tested at demonstration scale thanks to
the financial support of EU-funded projects, and the current EU legislative framework under the recast of the
Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 already set specific targets and delegated acts for their use. As
first priority, solid hydrogen supply chains are needed, together with carbon capture technologies aimed to build
Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) systems. Fuels that may be produced starting from H2 and CO2 or N2 are
hydrocarbons, alcohols and ammonia. The use of RFNBO is crucial in the transition towards full decarbonisation
on account of their ability to be used in the existing fuel infrastructures. As a result, a large number of funding
programmes are available today. Moreover, EU leads the sector in terms of patents, companies and
demonstration activities. As well as describing the current overall situation, this report identifies the major
challenges and the opportunities for a rapid market uptake of such fuels.
Buffi, M., Scarlat, N., Hurtig, O., Motola, V., Georgakaki, A., Letout, S., Mountraki, A. and Joanny Ordonez, G., Clean Energy Technology Observatory: Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin in the European Union – 2022 Status Report on Technology Development, Trends, Value Chains and Markets, EUR 31292 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022, ISBN 978-92-76-58826-9, doi:10.2760/76717, JRC130729.
2022-11-15
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC130729
978-92-76-58826-9 (online)
1831-9424 (online)
EUR 31292 EN , OP KJ-NA-31-292-EN-N (online)
; SCARLAT Nicolae; HURTIG Oliver 