From manure to
green fuel
From manure to
green fuel
Wet organic residual streams such as manure, roadside grass, and sewage sludge are waste products from agriculture and water purification. We can convert these into biocrude, an oily substance similar to crude oil. This biocrude can be upgraded to biomethanol for marine fuel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), or hydrogen. We reuse the waste products and replace fossil crude oil with biocrude.
HTU® Industries: The solution for nitrogen and climate.
Biofuel: Sustainable energy from biocrude
Global shipping and aviation face an enormous challenge: drastically reducing CO₂ emissions and thus replacing fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives. International agreements are becoming increasingly ambitious and compelling, increasing the pressure on these sectors to realize innovative solutions.
Shipping:
The international shipping industry is working towards net-zero CO₂ emissions in 2050, as established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). An ambitious climate goal for shipping, with the IMO MEPC committee adopting a Net-Zero Framework that will be binding from 2027. This includes:
- Global fuel standards based on “well-to-wake” CO₂ intensity
- Emissions trading via targets and compensation capacities
- Introduction of an IMO Net-Zero Fund
- Application to large seagoing vessels (>5,000 GT), accounting for approximately 85% of global shipping emissions.
The EU and the Netherlands support this framework and aim for climate-neutral shipping by 2050. The Dutch Maritime Master Plan includes a focus on emission-free vessels and investments in sustainable technologies.
Our biocrude forms the basis for high-quality biofuels. Through upgrading, biocrude can be converted into biomethanol, the ideal low-emission marine fuel, contributing to the global climate ambitions of the IMO.
Aviation:
The Netherlands, through ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization, the UN body that establishes global aviation policy and safety standards), has committed to the Long-Term Aspirational Goal: net-zero CO₂ emissions in aviation by 2050. This is laid down in the national State Action Plan (SAP) of April 2025. This plan rests on four pillars:
- Accelerated introduction of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
- Technological innovation and deployment of more efficient aircraft
- Smart airspace management (Single European Sky) for fuel saving
- Market instruments such as CO₂ ceilings and trading systems
The Netherlands also plays an active role in European regulations, such as ReFuelEU, which introduces blending obligations for SAF.
Our biocrude forms the basis for high-quality biofuels. Through upgrading, biocrude can be converted into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for aviation.
In this way, we contribute to the energy transition in sectors that are difficult to make more sustainable, we help shipping and aviation become more sustainable and meet the strict emission standards.
How do we make biocrude?
Read on our HTU® Technology page how we efficiently convert organic residual flows into biocrude using the HTU® process.
Why HTU® is unique
The HTU® technology converts organic residual streams, such as manure, into high-quality biocrude with maximum efficiency. All residual products are fully reused. Thanks to an almost completely circular mass-energy balance (>98%), no harmful waste streams or emissions remain. This makes HTU® a revolutionary solution in process technology and environmental technology.
Impact on climate and economy
By replacing fossil fuels with biofuels from biocrude, we substantially reduce CO₂ emissions, eliminate ammonia and methane emissions, and create economic value for agricultural entrepreneurs.
Sources:
State Action Plan for the reduction of CO₂ emissions from aviation
IMO approves net-zero regulation
From biocrude to biofuel
The biocrude has a high energy density. The biocrude can be upgraded via existing technology to biomethanol for marine fuel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for aircraft, or hydrogen.
Partly due to the extensive test program in the pilot plant at TNO in Apeldoorn, the revolutionary HTU® technology is currently qualified as TRL6 – TRL7.
HTU® Industries BV has recently started a feasibility study for the use of HTU® technology for the conversion of manure to biocrude.
Benefits for shipping and aviation
- Converts wet organic waste streams, such as manure, roadside grass and sewage sludge, into biocrude, liquid CO₂, minerals (Renure) and clean water in 15 minutes.
- Our biocrude forms the basis for high-quality biofuels. Through upgrading, biocrude can be converted into biomethanol, the ideal low-emission marine fuel
- Contributes to the global climate ambitions of the IMO.
- The HTU® technology is an almost completely circular process without harmful emissions or waste.
- There is 100% fossil CO₂ savings.
- CO₂ released from the wet organic residual flows is fully captured. This results in an additional emission reduction, resulting in a double climate gain.
- Virtually no ammonia and methane emissions.
- There is no impact on the food chain, no deforestation is required by exclusively using waste streams.
- Due to the extensive test program in the pilot plant at TNO in Apeldoorn, the revolutionary HTU® technology is currently qualified as TRL6 – TRL7.
Our HTU® technology makes a significant contribution to achieving climate goals and structurally reducing the current nitrogen problem. Every year, more manure is produced in the Netherlands than can be responsibly spread on farmland. This manure surplus can be fully processed by approximately twenty HTU® installations, each with a processing capacity of around 150 kilotons. By processing this surplus in a sustainable manner, nitrogen emissions from agriculture can be drastically reduced, bringing a structural solution to the nitrogen problem within reach.
HTU® Industries BV has started a feasibility study as the first phase for the deployment of HTU® technology for the conversion of manure to biobitumen, after which the way is open for conversion to biomethanol.
