CE FP7 | BIOGO: Catalysts, Microreactors, and Bio-Oil for Sustainable Fuel Production
BIOGO-for-Production is a European project aimed at developing nanostructured catalysts, intensified reactors, and integrated processes to convert biogas and bio-oil into sustainable liquid fuels. The goal is to demonstrate the entire process chain, from syngas production to methanol and gasoline synthesis, within a highly compact, efficient, and integrated demonstration plant. The project involved 17 industrial and academic partners from eight countries, coordinated by IMM Mainz, with strong participation from European companies specializing in catalysis, advanced coatings, and microreactors.
The BIOGO Approach: Advanced Catalysis and Integrated Processes
BIOGO introduces a completely new method for producing fuels from biomass, based on three key elements: nanostructured catalysts capable of handling complex feedstocks such as biogas and pyrolysis oil; intensified microchannel and membrane reactors that combine endothermic and exothermic reactions in a controlled way; and thermal integration, which reduces consumption, minimizes emissions, and achieves high carbon efficiency. The process follows a coherent sequence: biogas and bio-oil reforming, methanol synthesis, methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) conversion, and final product purification. The project aims to demonstrate synthetic fuels with 50% carbon efficiency and an energy self-sufficient balance.
Spike was involved in three central phases of the project, contributing engineering expertise in the bioenergy sector.
Selection of Bio-Feedstock
Spike was responsible for selecting the most suitable biomass for bio-oil production to be used in the BIOGO process. The analysis considered availability, logistics costs, upstream impacts (harvesting, drying, pretreatment), and expected yields in pyrolysis or HTL processes. The goal was to identify feedstocks that do not compete with food, suitable for conversion into oils rich in oxygenated compounds.
Bio-Oil Production and Characterization
Spike built an HTL plant to produce sufficient quantities of bio-oil for catalyst testing and the demonstration plant. The bio-oil was then characterized to determine key properties (viscosity, oxygen content, stability, composition), essential for designing the reforming and hydrogenation reactors.
Energy Balances and Process Integration
Spike contributed to developing the energy balance for the entire BIOGO process, collaborating with TU/e to define heat flows and optimal operating conditions. This information is critical for designing thermal integration between units: reforming, methanol synthesis, MTG, and purification systems. The approach was based on ASPEN models and pinch analysis to optimize the heat exchanger network and assess overall energy sustainability.
Why BIOGO is Strategic
BIOGO ranks among the most ambitious European research projects in synthetic fuels. The combination of advanced catalysis, intensified reactors, and modular processes makes it a model for a new generation of compact and distributed biorefineries, designed to exploit local feedstocks and reduce dependence on imported oil and gas. For Spike, BIOGO represented a crucial opportunity to strengthen its role in thermochemical conversion technologies and bio-oil synthesis, contributing to the development of a platform applicable to future decentralized biofuel value chains.