Europe’s clean energy transition requires more than expanding renewable electricity generation. It also demands innovative ways to recover value from the growing volumes of organic waste generated by cities, industries and agriculture. SUPREMAS addresses this challenge by transforming multiple waste streams into renewable gaseous fuels through flexible, decentralised technologies that can be deployed where they are needed most.
Funded by Horizon Europe, SUPREMAS (Syngas modular Units Providing Renewable Energy from Multiple wAstes and for different useS) develops modular, transportable syngas production units capable of converting residual biomass and organic waste into clean energy for local communities and industrial applications. The project combines technological innovation with stakeholder engagement to accelerate the adoption of circular, low-carbon energy systems.
Why it matters
Europe remains highly dependent on imported natural gas, exposing its energy system to supply risks and market volatility. At the same time, large quantities of biomass residues, sewage sludge, digestate and municipal organic waste remain underutilised despite their significant energy potential.
SUPREMAS demonstrates how these waste streams can become valuable local energy resources. By producing renewable syngas close to where waste is generated, the project supports energy security, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, promotes circular economy principles and creates new opportunities for decentralised energy production across both rural and urban territories.
What the project does
SUPREMAS develops compact, modular and transportable syngas production units capable of processing multiple feedstocks, including forestry residues, wastewater sludge, digestate and organic municipal waste. The generated syngas can be converted into electricity, heat and cooling through highly efficient energy systems, while future developments will also enable integration with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs).
The project validates these technologies through large-scale demonstrations in Spain and Portugal, while assessing their replication potential across ten additional demonstration sites throughout Europe. Alongside the technological development, SUPREMAS delivers a Decision Support System (DSS) that helps public authorities, utilities and investors evaluate the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of integrating decentralised syngas production into local energy systems. Community engagement activities and co-creation workshops ensure that the proposed solutions respond to local needs and can be effectively replicated.
Expected impact
SUPREMAS contributes to Europe’s transition towards a more resilient and circular energy system by demonstrating practical pathways for converting waste into renewable energy.
The project is expected to:
- Increase the sustainable use of biomass and organic waste resources.
- Reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels through locally produced renewable gases.
- Validate modular syngas technologies at TRL 7 in real operational environments.
- Support municipalities, industries and energy communities with advanced planning and decision-making tools.
- Foster stakeholder acceptance and replication through co-creation activities across multiple European regions.
Engreen’s role
Engreen leads the demonstration activities within the Renewable Energy Community of Guardabosone, in the Valsesia region of Italy. Through co-creation workshops with local stakeholders, Engreen supports the identification of sustainable pathways for the valorisation of local biomass resources while building replicable models for community-based bioenergy systems.
By connecting technological innovation with community engagement, Engreen ensures that the project’s solutions respond to local priorities and can be successfully transferred to other territories across Europe.
Consortium
Coordinator
- RINA Consulting S.p.A. (Italy)
Partners
- Mälardalen University (Sweden)
- RESET S.p.A. Società Benefit (Italy)
- Fundación CIRCE – Centro de Investigación de Recursos y Consumos Energéticos (Spain)
- Artelys (France)
- Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH (Germany)
- Fundación FUNDECYT – Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Extremadura (Spain)
- Agroamb Prodalt S.L. (Spain)
- Engreen Srl (Italy)
- WIP – Wirtschaft und Infrastruktur GmbH & Co. Planungs KG (Germany)
- European Renewable Gas Registry (ERGaR) (Belgium)
- Águas e Energia do Porto (AEdP) – CMPEAE – Empresa de Águas e Energia do Município do Porto (Portugal)
Official website: https://www.supremas.eu/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101160713. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
