The F-CUBED project develops an advanced hydrothermal conversion process to transform biogenic residues into intermediate bioenergy carriers (IECs) with solid fuel properties suitable for balancing the power grid.
The goal is to valorize unused biogenic residues and waste by increasing their energy density while reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The process will be experimentally validated through pilot tests on paper sludge, fruit and vegetable waste, and virgin olive pomace.
Coordinated by TNO (Netherlands), the consortium includes 2 universities, a research center, and 11 European companies, covering the entire value chain from secondary biomass sourcing to energy carrier production.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program (Grant No 884226), the project ran from May 2020 to December 2023.
CA.RE. FOR. Engineering leads Work Packages 3 (“Olive Pomace Treatment”) and 5 (“Value Chain Assessment”), developing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) models for secondary biomass chains using SimaPro and open-source tools. The LCA follows ISO standards and the EU RED II directive to provide a comprehensive environmental evaluation aligned with market requirements.
Additionally, CA.RE. FOR. coordinates the installation of an experimental TORWASH® pretreatment plant at an olive mill in Puglia, Italy, for pilot production of improved bioenergy carriers from virgin pomace, demonstrating an innovative circular process.
