Decarbonising energy-intensive industries with renewable synthetic fuels: DESIRE

Programme(s): HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) MAIN PROGRAMME

Topic(s): HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01-01 - MSCA Doctoral Networks 2023

Call for proposal: HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01

Funding Scheme: HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN-JD - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks - Joint Doctorates

Grant agreement ID: 101169263

Project description: New tools to power e-fuel combustion
The future energy mix will include a variety of fuels. E-fuels allow the storage of excess renewable energy as high-energy-density chemical compounds, making them ideal candidates for the energy transition in Energy-Intensive Industries (EIIs). With support from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DESIRE project will develop predictive tools, including mathematical models and experimental techniques, for e-fuel combustion. These tools will assist engineers in designing new technologies and modifying existing equipment to use these fuels effectively. The project will also train 15 young scientists in combustion science, engineering, and computer modelling, supporting Europe’s energy transition and the decarbonisation of EIIs. This initiative aims to address the fragmentation in the field of sustainable combustion research across Europe.

Objective

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 sustainable
energy 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).