ERMYONE: E-fuels pRoduction froM renewable electrolYsis and syngas cOnversion for traNsport dEcarbonization
ProjectDecarbonizing hard-to-electrify sectors — aviation, maritime transport, heavy-duty mobility, and energy-intensive industry — demands scalable, energy-
dense renewable fuels compatible with existing infrastructure. Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthetic fuels derived from CO₂ and renewable electricity represent a
cornerstone of European climate strategy, mandated under RED III, ReFuelEU Aviation, and FuelEU Maritime. Yet current Power-to-Fuel pathways remain
economically prohibitive: low-temperature electrolysis alone demands 50–53 kWh/kg H₂, and the cascaded inefficiencies of hydrogen production, CO₂
capture, syngas conditioning, and FT synthesis yield levelized fuel costs (LCOF) that systematically exceed fossil parity even under optimistic electricity
price scenarios. ERMYONE addresses this systemic inefficiency through a first-of-its-kind integrated Power-to-Fuel platform coupling high-temperature
CO₂/H₂O co-electrolysis — via both Solid Oxide Co-Electrolysis Cells (SOEC-O) and Proton-Conducting Ceramic Co-Electrolysis Cells (SOEC-H) — with
downstream Fischer–Tropsch fuel synthesis and renewable energy sources. By generating syngas directly from H₂O and CO₂ at elevated temperatures,
ERMYONE eliminates the reverse water–gas shift reactor, reduces electrical consumption by 45–55% relative to low-temperature routes, and enables
thermal integration between the exothermic FT process and the endothermic co-electrolysis unit, targeting overall process efficiencies exceeding 80% (LHV
basis) and a LCOF below €30/GJ at industrial scale. The project assesses also the use of the produced synthetic fuels in the transportation sector, one of
the most carbon-intensive end-use applications. A dedicated test bench and high-fidelity 3D CFD combustion models will be used to optimize their use in
heavy-duty engines, improving performance and reducing emissions by investigating pollutant formation mechanisms. Particular emphasis will be placed on
assessing compliance with the forthcoming Euro 7 regulatory framework under Real Driving Emissions (RDE) conditions. The consortium integrates five
complementary research units spanning high-temperature electrochemistry, heterogeneous FT catalysis, thermo-fluid dynamic modelling, combustion
engineering, and life-cycle sustainability assessment. An industrial advisory board will also support the project to ensure that the outcomes are aligned with
industrial priorities and market needs. Key scientific objectives include: (i) developing durable SOEC-O and SOEC-H short-stack architectures with
degradation rates below 0.8%/1000 h at relevant current densities; (ii) demonstrating controlled syngas composition under intermittent renewable supply; (iii)
validating thermal integration and flexible co-electrolysis–FT coupling at laboratory scale; (iv) assessing unrefined synthetic fuel blends in real-driving PEMS
campaigns; and (v) quantifying environmental and socio-economic performance via LCA and LCSA across the full value chain.
dense renewable fuels compatible with existing infrastructure. Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthetic fuels derived from CO₂ and renewable electricity represent a
cornerstone of European climate strategy, mandated under RED III, ReFuelEU Aviation, and FuelEU Maritime. Yet current Power-to-Fuel pathways remain
economically prohibitive: low-temperature electrolysis alone demands 50–53 kWh/kg H₂, and the cascaded inefficiencies of hydrogen production, CO₂
capture, syngas conditioning, and FT synthesis yield levelized fuel costs (LCOF) that systematically exceed fossil parity even under optimistic electricity
price scenarios. ERMYONE addresses this systemic inefficiency through a first-of-its-kind integrated Power-to-Fuel platform coupling high-temperature
CO₂/H₂O co-electrolysis — via both Solid Oxide Co-Electrolysis Cells (SOEC-O) and Proton-Conducting Ceramic Co-Electrolysis Cells (SOEC-H) — with
downstream Fischer–Tropsch fuel synthesis and renewable energy sources. By generating syngas directly from H₂O and CO₂ at elevated temperatures,
ERMYONE eliminates the reverse water–gas shift reactor, reduces electrical consumption by 45–55% relative to low-temperature routes, and enables
thermal integration between the exothermic FT process and the endothermic co-electrolysis unit, targeting overall process efficiencies exceeding 80% (LHV
basis) and a LCOF below €30/GJ at industrial scale. The project assesses also the use of the produced synthetic fuels in the transportation sector, one of
the most carbon-intensive end-use applications. A dedicated test bench and high-fidelity 3D CFD combustion models will be used to optimize their use in
heavy-duty engines, improving performance and reducing emissions by investigating pollutant formation mechanisms. Particular emphasis will be placed on
assessing compliance with the forthcoming Euro 7 regulatory framework under Real Driving Emissions (RDE) conditions. The consortium integrates five
complementary research units spanning high-temperature electrochemistry, heterogeneous FT catalysis, thermo-fluid dynamic modelling, combustion
engineering, and life-cycle sustainability assessment. An industrial advisory board will also support the project to ensure that the outcomes are aligned with
industrial priorities and market needs. Key scientific objectives include: (i) developing durable SOEC-O and SOEC-H short-stack architectures with
degradation rates below 0.8%/1000 h at relevant current densities; (ii) demonstrating controlled syngas composition under intermittent renewable supply; (iii)
validating thermal integration and flexible co-electrolysis–FT coupling at laboratory scale; (iv) assessing unrefined synthetic fuel blends in real-driving PEMS
campaigns; and (v) quantifying environmental and socio-economic performance via LCA and LCSA across the full value chain.