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EUBCE 2026 - Niels DÖGNITZ - Sustainable Aviation Fuels from Algae: The Search for Economically Viable Scaling

Sustainable Aviation Fuels from Algae: The Search for Economically Viable Scaling

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Algae and aquatic biomass production systems

Sustainable Aviation Fuels from Algae: The Search for Economically Viable Scaling

Short Introductive summary

A techno-economic analysis is being conducted to explore the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) from algae via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). This analysis identifies key factors influencing production costs, including biocrude yield, feedstock costs, and plant scale. Although in the literature costs vary considerably (12–396 EUR/GJ), large-scale production is expected to reduce costs to a level similar to that of fossil fuels. The study’s findings suggest that this production method is economically feasible through the use of dedicated plants and optimised processes, although the transition to large-scale production is a significant challenge.

Presenter

Moderator portrait

Niels DÖGNITZ

DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum, GERMANY

Presenter's biography

Niels Dögnitz has a M. Sc. in Industrial Engineering – Energy Engineering and joined the German Biomass Research Centre in 2019. His research interest focuses on the life cycle assessment of current and future biofuel options. In this context he is responsible for different LCC case studies.

Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited


Co-authors:

N. Dögnitz, DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum, Leipzig, GERMANY
T. Lopes, LNEG Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, Lisboa, PORTUGAL

Session reference: 1DV.2.1