The overall target of reFuel.ch (Renewable Fuels and Chemicals for Switzerland) is to improve the sustainability and reduce the costs of sustainable fuels and platform chemicals by increasing the efficiency, selectivity, and load-flexibility of production plants to comply with long-term climate policy goals.

The consortium will investigate how investment security can be improved by closing the knowledge gap between technical and non-technical aspects of sustainable fuels. Robust and practical pathways for the introduction of sustainable fuels and platform chemicals into markets and the Swiss energy system will be developed. To achieve this, inputs from social and natural sciences and engineering as well as from the dialogue with relevant stakeholders will be included. A second aim is to strengthen innovative technologies currently at low technology readiness level.

The call "Sustainable Fuels and Platform Chemicals" was developed in collaboration with the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) and the Federal Office for Defence Procurement (armasuisse). The reFuel.ch consortium was selected in a two-stage procedure. The funding is CHF 15 million.

The consortium is composed of:
Host institution: Empa
Members: PSI, ETH, EPFL, USI, UniBS, FHNW, SUPSI, ZHAW, Casale SA
Total budget: CHF 17.6 million, incl. CHF 15 million financed by SWEET

SWEET (Swiss Energy research for the Energy Transition) funding programme

The SWEET programme issues rolling calls for proposals for consortium projects and will continue until 2032. Funding is provided only for consortium projects that address central research topics of the 2050 Energy Strategy and Switzerland's long-term climate strategy in a comprehensive matter. SWEET focuses on solution-oriented research and on demonstrations of the results achieved. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) has the lead for the SWEET programme.

Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA)
FOCA supports the development and use of sustainable (aviation) fuels. These fuels can significantly reduce the impact of air traffic on the climate. Development in this area is a priority defined in the current multi-year SFLV financial aid programme. Close cooperation with the partner offices is sought in order to ensure that funding is as effective as possible.

armasuisse
The Federal Office for Defence Procurement (armasuisse) is the procurement, technology and real estate centre of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS). It is responsible for the development, evaluation, procurement and disposal of systems and materials of the Swiss Armed Forces and other customers. It participates in meeting the DDPS's energy policy objectives as set out in the Energy and Climate action plan. Replacing fossil fuels with more climate-friendly options is a high priority in this regard.

ReFuel.ch awarded funding from SWEET programme