CO₂ Fuels & Chemicals Conference 2026 Releases Program

A global forum on CCU innovation returns in April 2026 with a packed two-day programme exploring hydrogen, e-fuels, CO₂-to-polymers and breakthrough electrolysis technologies.

The preliminary programme for the CO₂-based Fuels and Chemicals Conference 2026 has been released, outlining two days of high-level discussions, breakthroughs and policy-focused insights that will shape the future of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU). Scheduled for 28–29 April 2026 in Cologne, Germany, with a parallel online format, the event remains one of the most important global platforms for advancing renewable carbon solutions.

Each year, the conference attracts more than 230 leaders spanning industry, research, and policy. The 2026 edition will delve into the rapid acceleration of CCU and Power-to-X technologies, supported by regulatory momentum from initiatives such as ReFuelEU Aviation and the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act. This year’s agenda highlights a diverse mix of strategic perspectives, technology case studies and pilot-scale results—from CO₂ capture and biogenic detection to e-fuels, polymers, and AI-driven emissions mapping.

A Programme Built Around Future-Defining Themes

Key focus areas include the ramp-up of green hydrogen, emerging pathways for cost-competitive e-fuels via integrated CO₂ capture and methanol synthesis, CO₂-to-polymers, gas fermentation biomanufacturing, and advanced electrolysis. The conference will also feature presentations from nominees of the “Best CO₂ Utilisation 2026” innovation award.

The full programme is available at co2-chemistry.eu/program.

Day 1: 28 April 2026 – Strategy, Certification and Sustainability

Strategy, Certification & Sustainability

• Michael Carus, nova-Institute (DE): When Will CCU Go Mainstream?
• Naser Odeh, KAPSARC (SA): Strategic Prioritization of Carbon Capture and Utilisation Pathways for Saudi Arabia's Circular Carbon Economy
• Esther Hegel, RSB (CH): Certifying Sustainability: Current Frameworks and Developments for CO₂-Based Fuels and Materials
• Àngel Puente, nova-Institute (DE): Sustainability in CCU
• Nils Rettenmaier, ifeu (DE): Integrating Prospective Life Cycle Assessment into Early Development of Carbon Capture Technologies

Green Hydrogen, Biogenic CO₂ and Carbon Capture

• Stefan Herrig, NRW.Energy4Climate (DE): The Hydrogen Economy in North Rhine-Westphalia – Where Does the Ramp-up Stand? What's Next?
• Maryanne Maina, TNO (NL): The Indispensable Role of Low-Emissions Hydrogen in the Chemicals Industry
• Eric Rambech, Endrava (NO): Unlocking Hidden CO2: AI Approaches to Identifying Industrial Biogenic Emissions Outside Europe and North America
• Dominik Baust, SGS Beta (US): Leveraging Carbon-14 Biogenic Content Measurement to Quantify CO2 Capture, Utilisation and Removals (CCU)
• Kevin Hofer, Kanadevia Inova (CH): t.b.a
• Anita Demuth, PtX Lausitz (DE): Onboard Carbon Capture and Usage (OCCU) for PtX Fuels

Poster Pitch Session

• Heleen de Wever, VITO (BE): UNICO2RN – Flexible and Efficient Capture and Bioconversion of CO₂ to Materials and Ingredients
• Gia Trung Hoang, KIT (DE): Catalytic Approaches for Sustainable Production of Synthetic Hydrocarbon Fuels from Methanol/DME

Presentation of Nominees – “Best CO₂ Utilisation 2026”

Day 2: 29 April 2026 – CO₂ to Chemicals, Fuels & Materials

CO₂ to Chemicals and Fuels

• Maike Lambarth, Cyclize (DE): Cyclize: Enabling a Carbon Circular Economy Through CO₂ and Waste Conversion
• Christian Wünsch, ICODOS (DE): Achieving Cost-Competitive Green Fuel Production Through Interlinked CO₂ Capture and Methanol Synthesis
• Rudolf Dörpinghaus, IASA (DE): Fuels in Focus – How to Mitigate the Impact of Aviation on Climate Change

CO₂ to Chemicals, Polymers and Materials

• Reinier Grimbergen, Blue Circle Olefins (NL): Carbon Dioxide to Chemicals – Quo Vadis?
• Nick Smith, Viridi (UK): Solving Critical Challenges to the Surfactant Industry with a new CO₂-to-Polymers Catalyst
• Enzo Duriez, Lesaffre International (FR): CCU for Food – The Development of More Sustainable and Resilient Solutions for Food Production Through an Open Innovation Approach

Advanced Research in CCU

• Annelie Jongerius, Avantium Chemicals (NL): Powering the Future: Advancing Electrochemical CO₂ Conversion with the WaterProof Project
• Achim Schaadt, Fraunhofer ISE (DE): DME – Sustainable All-Rounder for Defossilisation
• Markus Janasch, SINTEF (NO): Unlocking CO₂-Based Biomanufacturing: Multi-Omics-Driven Optimization of Gas Fermentation Coupled to Acetate-Based Production of Proteins and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

CO₂ Utilisation Technologies

• Mohammad Rezaei, GIG Karasek (AT): The Green Frontrunner Project – Advancing Electrochemical CO₂ Conversion from Concept to Pilot Scale
• Ray Mattioli, Oxylus Energy (US): Direct, Low-Temperature CO₂ Electrolysis to Methanol with Demonstrated Selectivity, Scalable Cell Architecture, and Superior Energy Efficiency
• Tamas Fodi, eChemicals (HU): Low-Temperature CO₂ Electrolysis in a Real Industrial Setting

The “Best CO₂ Utilisation” award—organised by nova-Institute and CO2 Value Europe and sponsored by Yncoris—is accepting submissions until 6 February 2026.

Holcim, the Gold Sponsor, continues to drive decarbonisation within chemicals and materials through renewable carbon solutions.

Numerous associations, research networks and industry organisations are supporting the event, reflecting its growing relevance within the transition to sustainable carbon.