Decarbonising energy-intensive industries with renewable synthetic fuels

The future energy mix will include a variety of fuels.

E-fuels allow to store the excess renewable energy into high energy-density chemical compounds representing the ideal candidates for energy transition in Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs).The DESIRE network will train the next generation of specialists in exploring the use of e-fuels, in existing combustion devices, to better guide the energy transition and to help the decarbonization of EIIs in Europe.

The academic and industrial partners of DESIRE will work synergistically to generate a cohort of 15 well-trained young scientists with inter-disciplinary skills in combustion science, mechanical and chemical engineering, computer science and modelling that will be ready to propel and advance future engines towards pollution control, fuel-flexibility and higher efficiencies.

Such a broad spectrum of training is currently lacking due to the fragmentation of the emerging field of sustainable combustion across Europe. Perhaps more importantly, the need, nature and magnitude of these new skills is only now emerging.

The DESIRE network will equip its Doctoral Candidates with a unique combination of skills essential to become future research leaders or entrepreneurs in the sustainableenergy sector.

They will drive this research field forward and accelerate the energy transition.The main scientific goal of DESIRE is to develop predictive tools including mathematical-numerical models and experimental measurement techniques able to describe the combustion of e-fuels that can then assist engineers in designing new technologies and/or modifying/adapting existing combustion equipment and technologies to be suitable to use these powerful fuels.The program is heavily supported by key-companies in the transport sector (Rolls-Royce, Safran), fuel and chemicals production/ distribution (Air Liquide), and electrical/mechanical power technology (Condevo, ENGIE, MITIS).