The Project Concept
The olive oil industry, a key component of Mediterranean agriculture, faces a persistent environmental and economic challenge: the management of olive pomace wastewater – a highly polluting by-product generated in large quantities during oil extraction. Its complex composition, high organic load, and phenolic content make conventional treatment processes costly and inefficient, limiting the sustainability of the sector and the development of rural regions.
Responding to this challenge, SALBIOFUEL proposes an innovative solar-driven thermochemical system that integrates molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) with high-temperature biomass conversion processes, enabling the valorization of olive pomace wastewater into renewable energy vectors.
The concept combines a solar-heated molten salt loop, acting as an energy hub capable of storing and transferring heat, with a thermochemical reactor that uses the wastewater as feedstock. Through steam-reforming and hydrothermal liquefaction, the system produces syngas, bio-oil, and bio-char – renewable intermediates for the production of fuels such as hydrogen, methanol, or kerosene. The process also allows partial water recovery, contributing to resource efficiency and waste minimization.
Building on the Évora Molten Salt Platform (EMSP) and the expertise of the University of Évora’s Renewable Energies Chair, SALBIOFUEL aims to develop, optimize, and validate this concept from laboratory to pre-industrial scale. The project will evaluate its technical feasibility, energy performance, and techno-economic viability, laying the groundwork for future scale-up and commercialization.
Ultimately, SALBIOFUEL seeks to establish the Alentejo region as a European benchmark for solar-driven biofuel technologies, fostering circular bioeconomy, regional innovation, and a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
Key Objectives
SALBIOFUEL has the following Key Objectives:
- Design and simulation of a molten Salt solar-driven olive pomace wastewater hydrothermal liquefaction and steam-reforming process.
- Lab-scale design and demonstration of a reactor suitable for both processes.
- Development of engineering project for a full pilot-project demonstration at EMSP-NEWSOL loop.
- Development of a preliminary techno-economic analysis and scale-up strategy.
Project WP Structure
With a focus on the deployment of the governance and monitoring methodologies, tools and structures foreseen for the implementation and execution of the project work plan. Supported in the methodologies and support artifacts defined in the PM2 Project Management Methodology, WP1 objectives are:
- The implementation and steering of the project Governance bodies and organization of the regular project meetings;
- The completion of the project Initiating phase, the continuous monitoring of the project execution phase and the preparation and completion of the project Conclusion phase;
- Due communication of the Solution Provider (Consortium) to the Project Owner (CCDR-A), both represented by the Project Manager (Project Coordinator, PC) and the Business manager (Project Officer, PO), respectively;
- The monitoring and management of Risks through a continuous update of the Risk Matrix and implementation of due risk mitigation measures;
- The definition and implementation of the Data Management Plan ensuring compliance with FAIR and Open-Access principles;
- The coordination and continuous monitoring of Project Reporting, Deliverables and Milestones as defined in the project work plan.
WP2 will focus its attention on the main features of olive pomace waste water rendering its use as feed stock for the thermochemical processes.The main objectives are:
- Thermochemical analysis of different supplies of olive pomace wastewater;
- Optimization of steam-reforming and hydrothermal liquefaction processes based on feed stock chemical content;
- Assessment of wastewater quality for different uses both pre and post thermochemical processes.
WP3 will focus its attention on the experimental testing and validation of the SALBIOFUEL concept. The main objectives are:
- Development of a small-scale reactor to be tested at lab-scale environment for preliminary output assessment and quality control;
- Procurement, acquisition and installation of equipments and components for reactor installation at EMSP facility;
- Systems commissioning and testing.
WP4 will focus on the techno-economic assessment of the SALBIOFUEL concept and on the development of a possible scale-up strategy for future market penetration. It will be consider the value chain assessment associated to the operationalization of the concept, estimation of levelized costs of productions and identification of stakeholders and off-takers interested in thetechnology.
The WP5 delineates the DEC strategy for the project and monitors its implementation during and after the project life. The objective is to promote project visibility following open science practices, creating market opportunities and fostering collaboration with all stakeholders seeking the uptake and exploitation of project outcomes and its objectives are:
- To design, deploy and assess the dissemination and communication strategy for the project, to reach the target groups with the obtained results and developed activities;
- To create the tools and a framework for the dissemination of the project results, engaging with the target groups, other stakeholders and relevant activities/events related to SALBIOFUEL scope;
- To disseminate and communicate SALBIOFUEL mission, bringing together policy makers and olive oil related associations and its representatives to create policy/regulamentary frameworks to enable and promote the exploitation of SALBIOFUEL approach;
- To create SALBIOFUEL guidelines with step by step indications for the exploitation and market uptake of SALBIOFUEL business model.
Consortium
Universidade de Évora (UE)
Established in the XVI century, the University of Évora is the cornerstone High Education Institution in the region of Alentejo.