Project objective

The topic of the joint project PyroMar is the production of ‘decarbonised’ drop-in fuels for the operation of ocean-going vessels, particularly in Emission Control Areas (ECAs), using biogenic residues. To this end, fuel components consisting entirely of biogenic residues are to be produced as additives to low-sulphur diesel fuels or heavy fuel oil in order to produce blended fuels as drop-in fuels for use in the two emission control zones. Use as blended fuel components (rather than as purely biogenic fuels) is the preferred approach, as this is the only way to achieve the volume structure required for the economically viable use of the existing tank infrastructure.

The feedstocks used initially are straw, leaves, landscape management hay, forest residues and shrub cuttings. These are converted into pyrolysis oil (‘bio-oil’) by means of ablative fast pyrolysis, either in pure form or in suitable mixtures. To reduce the acid number and improve miscibility with fossil base fuels, this pyrolysis oil is esterified with longer-chain alcohols, which are produced catalytically from biogenic residues (in the project, from straw).
The intermediates produced are chemically analysed and, based on the analysis values, practical mixing ratios for blended fuels with low-sulphur marine distillate fuel and heavy fuel oil are determined. Hybrid drop-in fuels produced according to these formulations are then used in a medium-speed single-cylinder research engine to obtain initial experimental evidence of their practical suitability.

The project will be accompanied by ecological and economic sustainability assessments, analyses of biomass potential and sales markets, investigations into the legal framework and the development of approaches for the subsequent commercialisation of the PyroMar approach.

The direct aim of the project is therefore to demonstrate a process concept for producing cost-effective blend components from the aforementioned residual materials for use in the operation of ocean-going vessels both within and outside Emission Control Areas (ECAs), which will contribute both to solving the sulphur problem and, in particular, to CO2 savings in this transport segment. Suitable operating parameters are to be determined, thereby preparing for subsequent upscaling and ultimately validating the project at technology readiness level 4-5 with indicative engine tests.

The long-term goal is to launch the blended fuels produced in this way, which are 100% waste-based, onto the market. In order to ensure the industrial relevance of the investigations, the results will be discussed in a workshop with commercial/industrial waste disposal companies, chemical companies/refineries and shipping companies/port operators, and the next steps will be developed together with them in a practical manner.

Project website: -

Contribution of the University of Rostock:

Fuel characterisation and evaluation of marine fuels and blend components, and participation in fuel tests in marine engines to determine combustion properties.

Funding body: BMWi / PTJ

Project duration: 01.01.2020-31.12.2022

Funding volume: €367,700.00

Responsible Colleague:

• Fanny Langschwager

Project partners:

• Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT (coordinator)
• ifeu – Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg GmbH
• DGMK e.V. - Technical Committee on Fuels