The future of Solar-to-X : harnessing renewables for a sustainable future

In our shift towards a sustainable future, rethinking the production of materials, chemicals and fuels is essential. Renewable resources - such as energy, water, and abundant molecules like carbon dioxide - offer significant potential to transform the global chemical and manufacturing sectors. The European Innovation Council (EIC) is committed to this transformative path, supporting it through various funding initiatives. Funding alone isn't enough; a robust solar fuels innovation ecosystem is crucial for accelerating progress. To address this, the EIC hosted a two-day Solar-to-X Innovation event on 4-5 June 2024. Over 130 delegates, including academics, start-ups, industry leaders, policymakers and investors from Europe and the US, gathered to discuss advancements from cutting-edge research to market-ready technologies. The event featured talks, panels, pitches and open discussions on the full spectrum of innovation-from academic breakthroughs to technology scaling and integration into existing energy systems. It represented a unique occasion to spark conversations and catalyze ideas around the future role of CCU, Power-to-X, and Solar-to-X technologies in the European energy system. This report provides a summary of the event's sessions and key outcomes, offering insights into the current state of the field and ways to foster technology transfer and innovation.