The CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals Conference 2026, held on 28–29 April 2026, brought together nearly 170 industry experts, technology developers, and sustainability leaders to discuss the latest advancements in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) and Power-to-X technologies. A major highlight of the conference was the presentation of the prestigious “Best CO2 Utilisation 2026” innovation award, which recognized breakthrough technologies transforming captured carbon dioxide into valuable fuels and chemicals.
The award was jointly organised by nova-Institut and CO2 Value Europe, with sponsorship from Yncoris. The initiative honours innovative solutions that accelerate industrial decarbonisation by converting CO2 into fuels, chemical intermediates, and sustainable materials.
Audience selects three breakthrough CCU technologies
This year, six innovative technologies competed for the award, with winners selected through a live audience vote during the conference. The winning companies — RAPCO2 (Italy), Aerleum (France), and OCOchem (USA) — showcased complementary approaches to industrial CO2 utilisation. Their technologies span direct air capture, e-methanol production, and electrochemical conversion processes capable of generating carbon-negative chemical intermediates such as formate and ethylene.
RAPCO2 wins first place with Direct Air Capture and eFuel technology
Italian company RAPCO2 secured first place with its innovative indoor Direct Air Capture (DAC) systems, BlueLeaf and eJungle. BlueLeaf is designed for smaller commercial spaces such as shops and offices, with each unit capable of capturing CO2 equivalent to approximately one hectare of forest. Meanwhile, eJungle combines the capacity of 80 BlueLeaf systems to deliver larger-scale carbon capture while simultaneously converting captured CO2 into sodium acetate.
The company uses a patented bioreactor process to convert captured carbon into acetate while regenerating the DAC material with low energy consumption. The acetate is then processed into isopropyl alcohol (IPA) through ketonisation and hydrogenation steps. According to RAPCO2, IPA offers several advantages as an eFuel, including higher calorific value, non-toxic characteristics, and broader industrial application potential compared to fuels such as methanol.
Aerleum takes second place for scalable e-methanol production
French company Aerleum earned second place for its Direct Carbon Utilisation technology, which converts atmospheric and industrial CO2 into sustainable fuels and chemicals. The company’s integrated and patented platform focuses on scalable industrial deployment while producing carbon-neutral products at competitive costs. Its first commercial application centers on e-methanol production.
e-Methanol is emerging as a key low-carbon fuel for difficult-to-decarbonise sectors, particularly aviation and maritime shipping. It can be converted into sustainable aviation fuel or used directly as a cleaner marine fuel. In addition, e-methanol serves as an important sustainable feedstock for the chemical industry, supporting lower-carbon manufacturing of everyday consumer products. By targeting hard-to-abate industries, Aerleum aims to provide practical and scalable decarbonisation pathways for global industrial sectors.
OCOchem secures third place with advanced CO2 electrolysis system
US-based OCOchem received third place for its Carbon FluX Electrolyzer (CFX) 400 technology, which electrochemically converts captured CO2 and water into sustainable formic acid and potassium formate. The system uses four large industrial-scale CO2 electrolyzer cells equipped with the company’s proprietary Axial FluX Gas Diffusion Electrodes. Each electrode measures 15,000 cm², making them more than six times larger than previously reported industrial systems.
The modular system was deployed and commissioned within six weeks and currently produces approximately 60 tons per year. The technology operates at 85% Faradaic Efficiency and achieves high current density performance of 250 mA/cm². Additionally, the company has demonstrated electrode durability exceeding 1,200 operational hours. OCOchem began commercial shipments of carbon-negative formates to multiple customers in October 2025, marking an important milestone for industrial-scale electrochemical CO2 conversion.
Additional nominees highlight growing CCU innovation ecosystem
The remaining nominees further demonstrated the rapid advancement of carbon utilisation technologies worldwide. German company ICODOS showcased its e-methanol production technology, while Canadian firm CERT Systems presented an electrochemical process for ethylene production from CO2. Meanwhile, CYNiO from Germany highlighted its work on CO2-based isocyanates. Together, the nominated projects reflected the growing maturity and industrial scalability of CCU technologies across fuels, chemicals, and advanced materials.
Accelerating industrial decarbonisation through carbon utilisation
The conference also highlighted the broader role of CCU and Power-to-X technologies in supporting industrial defossilisation and circular carbon economies. nova-Institut continues to support renewable carbon cycle development and sustainable transformation within the chemicals and materials industry. At the same time, CO2 Value Europe connects stakeholders across the CCU value chain, while Yncoris contributes engineering, infrastructure, and operational expertise to accelerate industrial implementation. As per the press release, as CCU technologies continue to evolve, innovations such as Direct Air Capture, e-methanol synthesis, and electrochemical CO2 conversion are expected to play an increasingly important role in reducing industrial carbon emissions and enabling sustainable chemical manufacturing worldwide.
