On 19 and 20 May 2026, POSEIDON took part in the EUBCE 2026 – European Biomass Conference and Exhibition in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Our project coordinator Julian Dailly from EIFER, and project partner Paul Haering from Steinbeis Europa Zentrum represented POSEIDON in two dedicated workshops: ”Decarbonizing the Seas – Advanced Biofuels for the Maritime Sector” and ”Sustainable Fuels Deployment, Lessons Learned, and Policy Recommendations”. These sessions provided valuable opportunities to exchange knowledge and learn from other EU projects working on alternative fuel solutions.
We would like to thank ETA Florence for the invitation, and in particular Giacomo Mezzetti, Giulio Poggiaroni and Simona Alpi for organising the workshops. It is our honour to engage with experts and fellow projects from across Europe, including M2ARE, COCPIT Project, SEAFAIRER, NextFuel, FUELPHORIA, REFOLUTION, SunFusion, and Abate.
Workshop highlights
Complementary technological pathways
The discussions highlighted how different fuel production pathways can complement each other in achieving the EU’s climate targets. Current EU regulations allow for a combination of sustainable energy options, including biofuels, synthetic fuels, and recycled carbon fuels. Leveraging multiple pathways will be essential to bridge the gap towards climate neutrality by 2050.
Need for regulatory alignment
Regulatory misalignment remains a key challenge. Different EU frameworks rely on varying metrics, reporting requirements, verification procedures, and timelines. Harmonising these approaches would reduce duplication and increase predictability for project developers. In addition, while many projects are progressing towards certification, some face difficulties due to the lack of suitable or clearly defined standards.
Economic viability relies on multiple success factors
The economic viability of alternative fuel value chains depends on multiple factors rather than a single bottleneck. Key challenges include feedstock availability, overall cost competitiveness with fossil fuels, and uncertainty around future policy frameworks. Overall, the energy transition will rely on a combination of technological advancement and clear, stable policy development to support market uptake.
Agenda for sustainable fuels deployment
Looking ahead, the discussions highlighted the need to advance both technological innovation and enabling conditions for market uptake. Across projects, there is a shared focus on improving process efficiency, developing flexible solutions that can adapt to different feedstocks, and ensuring integration into existing industrial systems. At the same time, participants highlighted the importance of reducing investment risks, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, and creating stable market conditions. The discussions also pointed to the need to look beyond Europe for feedstock potential. Overall, coordinated policy support, including funding, carbon pricing, and market creating measures, will be essential to drive uptake and ensure long term competitiveness.
Next Steps
The valuable insights and outputs from the workshops will feed into the development of policy recommendations for accelerating the uptake of e-methanol as a sustainable shipping fuel. POSEIDON looks forward to further exchange with FUELPHORIA, M2ARE and other EU-funded projects to further align efforts and strengthen impact.
