REALCHEM
The REALCHEM project aims to contribute to electrifying transport by studying the challenges and possibilities for Hard-to-Electrify transport sectors (HtE). By collecting data on emissions from low-carbon fuels, the project will help find sustainable alternatives and reduce the harmful pollution from engines using low-carbon fuels.
For Europe to be able to reach the ambitious climate targets of the Green Deal and the zero-pollution vision by 2050, the transport sector is required to implement wide-reaching changes. While electrification of the transport sector is a major part of these changes, it is evident that for heavy-duty transport, non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), the shipping sector, and aviation, the need for combustion-based technologies remains, thus giving rise to the HtE transport mode classification.
Decarbonisation of the HtE transport sector is anticipated to be driven by a change from fossil fuels to low-carbon biofuels or electrofuels resembling currently used fuel, such as methane (CNG, LNG), alcohols (ethanol, methanol), diesel, jet and marine fuels. Depending on raw materials and side-product utilisation, some of these fuels can be even carbon-negative. Additionally, carbon-free fuel options cover ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen (H2), which in turn influence combustion technologies and therefore also air pollutant emissions such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxides (NOx).
Running from February 2025 to June 2028, REALCHEM project aims to promote a clean and climate-friendly transport system by studying emissions from low carbon fuels in HtE transport sectors, including aviation, shipping, and heavy-duty on-road and non-road mobile machinery. It brings together a multidisciplinary team of 11 research partners, experienced in both their fields and in collaborative research, as characterising emissions from various transport modes poses unique experimental difficulties and requires insights into both mode-specific processes and emission evolution. POLIS leads the communication, dissemination and exploitation activities.
The project will observe emissions from various fuels and engines under real-life conditions, model their effects on air quality and human health, and focus on the most important new technologies. REALCHEM will use a large amount of pre-existing data on both low-carbon and fossil fuels and conduct innovative experimental work in all three HtE transport modes. The aim is to produce guidance and technology packages for cleaner transport in terms of health effects and climate impacts. The data will be organised into a low-carbon fuel emission database, which will help REALCHEM generate new knowledge and identify the most efficient new fuels and technologies.
REALCHEM has three main objectives:
- Produce robust, comprehensive, and actionable scientific data on the characteristics of emissions from low-carbon fuels in the HtE transport modes
- Understand the effect of introducing low-carbon fuels to the developing technology matrix on human health, climate, and the environment
- Help technology developers and users to understand the emission formation and reduce the harmful pollution from engines using low-carbon fuels
These efforts are in line with Europe's ambitious climate targets, the Green Deal, and the vision of zero pollution by 2050. The need for combustion-based technologies in heavy-duty transport, non-road machinery, shipping, and aviation sectors remains, and the decarbonisation of these sectors is expected to be driven by a shift from fossil fuels to low-carbon alternatives. This will lead to changes in combustion technologies and air pollutant emissions. REALCHEM will provide scientific evidence and recommendations to navigate this changing future.
This project will provide industry, research and academia, citizens and policymakers with a robust set of scientific knowledge, as well as valuable datasets of regulated and emerging air pollutants, toxicity assessment, air pollution exposure projections up to 2050, technology trajectories, mitigation technology packages, impact assessments on air quality and public health, guidance and strategic recommendations for stakeholders, and policy recommendation for decision-makers.
Want to keep up with the latest news? Follow the project LinkedIn.
