SUNFUSION Six-month Progress Overview
As we conclude the second half of our project’s first year, we are excited to present our latest six-month update. Discover how our work is driving progress in sustainable fuels through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and active engagement in European research and innovation initiatives.
Strengthening Collaboration and Synergies
Building a sustainable energy future is a shared effort, and collaboration plays a central role in SUNFUSION’s journey. That’s why we’re happy to share that SUNFUSION is now part of the SUSTAFUELS Cluster, a growing community of Horizon Europe projects working toward cleaner, more efficient fuel solutions.
The cluster brings together ten projects – ALFAFUELS, ALGAESOL, CAPTUS, COCPIT, FUELGAE, ICARUS, NIAGARA, SUNFUSION, SusAlgaeFuel, and SUSTEPS – each contributing unique expertise and perspectives. These initiatives are pushing the boundaries of research and are united by a common goal: accelerating the transition toward sustainable transport fuels.
Within the cluster, partners are committed to:
- Collaborating on technical topics
- Sharing best practices in life-cycle and techno-economic assessments
- Aligning efforts to develop integrated, circular value chains
- Organising sessions on common topics of interest
- Participating together and optimising resources in commercial fairs & exhibitions
For SUNFUSION, this collaboration represents a valuable opportunity to amplify impact, accelerate innovation, and contribute to sustainable fuels for the transport sector.
In addition to our collaborative cluster activities, SUNFUSION actively develops synergies with EU-funded projects and initiatives whose objectives align with our mission. These collaborations support knowledge exchange, strengthen research impact, and help identify opportunities for joint activities.
A recent example is the start of our collaboration with FUELPHORIA, an EU-funded project focused on establishing sustainable, competitive, and secure value chains for advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin. The collaboration was officially launched through the first joint meeting, during which both teams exchanged insights and discussed potential areas of cooperation. This initial exchange marked an important step toward future joint actions and mutual learning.
SUNFUSION has also initiated collaboration with SolarHub, an initiative aiming to strengthen and connect solar energy innovation ecosystems in Greece and Turkey. SolarHub seeks to scale these ecosystems into a cross-border Solar Energy Excellence Hub, with a strong emphasis on agricultural applications. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, explore complementarities, and identify possible synergies between the two initiatives.
Through these collaborations, SUNFUSION continues to strengthen links within the European research and innovation landscape, contributing to a more connected and impactful ecosystem in support of sustainable energy and fuel solutions.
SUNFUSION at Conferences and Knowledge-Sharing Events
Throughout the year, SUNFUSION has been actively represented at key scientific and knowledge-sharing events, providing opportunities to present project results, exchange expertise, and engage with stakeholders across the bioenergy and sustainability fields.
- From June 25-27, SUNFUSION participated in the 15th CASEE CONFERENCE, held in Novi Sad. Our partners from Foodscale Hub presented the project with the poster on “Advancing Green Transitions in Biofuel Production through Early-Phase LCA and S-LCA” to showcase how we’re contributing to sustainable biofuel development.
- SUNFUSION was present at the 33rd European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE) 2025 in Valencia, Spain. Our partners from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) held a presentation during the conference and shared insights from our project, highlighting outcomes of the microalgae experiments. This event brought together research communities, sparking meaningful discussions on advancing bioenergy and sustainable solutions.
- During the first SUSTENS Meeting, a virtual conference, the AUTH team presented the SUNFUSION project within the theme “Bioprospecting of Oleaginous Microalgal Strains for High Biomass and Lipid Yields under Outdoor Cultivation as a Sustainable Feedstock for Biodiesel Production”.
- In September, SUNFUSION joined the LTES2025 International Summer School on Latent Thermal Energy Storage: From Demand to Application in Spain. This event fostered knowledge transfer and capacity-building, connecting academia, researchers, and industry to explore how latent thermal energy storage can move from demand to practical application. Our partners from Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi / Middle East Technical University (METU) took part in the event, ensuring that SUNFUSION was represented.
SUNFUSION Consortium Meeting in Saint‑Nazaire
In September 2025, the SUNFUSION consortium gathered for its 9‑month progress meeting in Saint‑Nazaire, France, hosted by our partner Université de Nantes. The two-day event brought together partners from across Europe to review the project’s progress and align upcoming activities toward a common goal – advancing the production of sustainable biofuels from microalgae and oleaginous yeasts through solar-powered hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL).
The two‑day meeting included updates on scientific and technical progress, from biomass cultivation and lipid optimisation to process modelling and techno‑economic assessment. Discussions also covered advances in thermal energy storage and solar integration, all critical to ensuring energy efficiency across our process.
In addition to technical exchanges, partners discussed communication and dissemination strategies to further increase SUNFUSION’s visibility within the research community and beyond. At the end of the meeting, a visit to the AlgoSolis facility offered insights into cutting‑edge work on microalgal biomass production and biorefining.
The next consortium meeting will take place in Grenoble, France, in March 2026, hosted by Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA).
From Outcomes to Opportunities
In October, SUNFUSION partners from Foodscale Hub organised a discussion with the project consortium to reflect on the project results and explore exploitation pathways — identifying how the outcomes can generate lasting impact beyond the project’s lifetime.
It was a productive exchange of ideas and perspectives that will guide the next steps towards sustainable implementation.
Before you go, we invite you to visit SUNFUSION’s website and follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter).