"The aim of the COMBAT initiative is to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy carriers"
TECNALIA fosters solutions to integrate DME, green hydrogen and green ammonia, and their hybridisation, reducing costs and increasing energy efficiency in the sector
The COMBAT initiative advances the decarbonisation and electrification of maritime transport through research, testing, validation and the integration of new sustainable synthetic fuels, mainly DME (dimethyl ether), green hydrogen (H₂) and green ammonia (NH₃), as well as their hybridisation.
The aim is to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy carriers, reduce costs, increase energy efficiency and boost European technological and industrial sovereignty in a key sector for the reduction of emissions.
Decarbonising a sector that is difficult to electrify
Maritime transport is a complex sector to electrify directly and requires comprehensive solutions to reduce external energy dependence and strengthen industrial capacities.
COMBAT addresses critical technological challenges, such as:
- Thermal integration of processes to maximise overall plant efficiency.
- Cost reduction in green hydrogen production.
- Increased efficiency in fuel synthesis.
- Adaptation of engines and auxiliary systems to new fuels.
TECNALIA participates in COMBATE through the Membrane Technology and Process Intensification, Hydrogen Technologies and Bioeconomy and CO₂ research groups, with complementary lines of work and high technological impact:
- CO₂ capture by adsorption: investigation of functionalised hybrid materials to increase capacity, selectivity and stability, enabling circular carbon synthesis routes.
- Direct synthesis of DME: development of membrane reactors integrating reaction and separation to increase conversion and selectivity and reduce energy consumption.
- Hydrogen separation: study and characterisation of membranes for H₂ focusing on permeability, selectivity, durability and operating at high temperatures.
- Electrification of ammonia synthesis: application of pulsed induction to intensify heat transfer and make operation with renewable electricity more flexible.
- CO₂-based electrochemical conversion: selection, characterisation and validation of components for electrochemical conversion systems to recover CO₂ into new vectors or intermediates that can be integrated into synthesis routes.
The project will move forward in the pre-industrial validation of components and processes, integration of value chains (capture-synthesis-storage-use) and adaptation of engines and on-board systems to DME, H₂ and NH₃, including hybridisation strategies and operational safety.
- COMBATE is coordinated by Empresarios Agrupados - GHESA.
- It includes the participation of SISTEM, H2site, H2B2, SKV, IBERDROLA, UPM, EHU, Loyola University and TECNALIA. The project is funded by the Science and Innovation Missions 2025 Programme (File MIG-20251019).