The VERDEDRIVE project, funded under the HORIZON-MSCA Staff Exchanges 2023 program, aims to develop a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional diesel fuel by harnessing by-products from various natural sources. The project seeks to address the increasing global demand for renewable energy by utilizing innovative technologies in biofuel production.
VERDEDRIVE focuses on the selective deoxygenation (SDO) of oils derived from alternative crops and agricultural by-products, including rose petals, sour cherries, maize, soybean variants, and Cynara cardunculus. Through a combination of precision agriculture, chemical engineering, environmental science, and biotechnology, the project will optimize the production process of green diesel while ensuring its economic feasibility and environmental sustainability.
The consortium comprises leading academic and industrial partners from multiple European countries, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to biofuel innovation. Work packages include the characterization of raw materials, the optimization of catalyst formulations, the evaluation of biofuel quality, and the integration of digital surveillance technologies for process control. Additionally, the project will conduct a comprehensive life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) to assess the long-term viability of the proposed biofuel solutions.
A key component of VERDEDRIVE is knowledge exchange through staff secondments, fostering international collaboration and expertise sharing among research institutions and industry stakeholders. The project also emphasizes the dissemination of findings through workshops, publications, and engagement with policymakers to facilitate the adoption of sustainable fuel alternatives.
Ultimately, VERDEDRIVE aims to contribute to the decarbonization of the transport sector, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and support the European Union’s objectives for climate neutrality by 2050.
Project Τitle: Harnessing by-products for the creation of eco-friendly and sustainable diesel fuel.
Project Duration: 1/1/2025 – 31/12/2028
Project URL: https://www.verdedrive-project.eu/
Project Framework & Funding: European Research Executive Agency & 1.633.000€
(285.200€ for UNIWA)
Scientific coordinator (UNIWA): Prof. Ioannis Sarris
Consortium – Partners:
UNIVERSITY OF WEST ATTICA, Greece
REZOS BRANDS ANONYMI EMPORIKI ETERIA IDON DIATROFIS, Greece
VENUSROUZES LABSOLUTIONS, Bulgaria
INNOVATION HIVE – KYPSELI KAINOTOMIAS, Greece
FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY AND METALLURGY UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE, Serbia
FIRAT UNIVERSITESI, Türkiye
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE – UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE, Serbia
UNIVERSITEIT GENT, Belgium
