Launched in 2022, the European project SUNER-C has successfully built a dedicated community and ecosystem for solar fuels and chemicals in Europe. This EU-funded CSA (Coordination and Support Action) received 4M€ funding to enable the creation of an innovation ecosystem, develop a technological roadmap, and prepare for a large-scale research and innovation (R&I) initiative on solar fuels and chemicals. SUNER-C consisted of 30 industry, academic, societal, and network organizations in 12 countries, bringing together partners to define the field’s future through strategic documents, practical tools, and collaborative workshops.
Key achievements include developing a Technological Roadmap that identifies critical milestones for implementing solar fuels and chemicals in society, along with a blueprint addressing financing, exploitation, and societal impact. The team also created a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) through an inclusive process involving over 140 stakeholders from industry, academia, and policy.
“We are proud of the many results obtained and happy with the strengthening of our community,” said Bert Weckhuysen, SUNER-C coordinator. “Connecting the right stakeholders is key to making our society more sustainable and circular.”

The project developed a Community Mapping tool – an interactive platform allowing users to explore R&D&I actors across the solar fuels value chain – and an Educational Platform designed for audiences from high school students to industry professionals.

As SUNER-C was coming to a close, the project’s Final Conference included a Policy Dinner at the European Parliament. The event was hosted by MEP Stefan Köhler. The event brought together EU policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives to discuss how sustainable fuels and chemicals can contribute to the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal (CID). Although SUNER-C has officially concluded, Prof. Bert Weckhuysen emphasized: “The spirit and infrastructure SUNER-C built are here to stay. The SUNERGY community, of which SUNER-C was a key driver, will keep connecting experts, sharing insights, and pushing large-scale innovation in solar fuels and chemicals.

You can read more about the closing event of SUNER-C here.