TOTALENERGIES ONETECH BELGIUM

Their core work

TotalEnergies OneTech Belgium is the Belgian research and technology center of TotalEnergies, one of the world's largest energy companies. They focus on developing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies and advanced catalytic processes for decarbonizing heavy industry. Their H2020 involvement centers on testing emission-reduction solutions for petroleum refineries, blast furnace operations, and chemical production — bringing industrial-scale process expertise and real-world testing capacity to EU research consortia. They contribute as a technology integrator, bridging laboratory research with industrial deployment in refining and petrochemical environments.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2017) focused on fundamental emission-reduction approaches — chemical looping combustion for petroleum refineries, handling heavy residual fuels and petcoke, with a notable China collaboration dimension through CHEERS. By 2019, the focus shifted decisively toward large-scale CO2 capture demonstration (the DMX process in Dunkirk) and diversified into catalytic chemistry with MOF-based methane conversion. The trajectory shows a move from exploring CCS concepts to participating in concrete industrial demonstration projects and expanding into green chemistry.

Moving from CCS research toward full-scale industrial CO2 capture deployment and diversifying into catalytic conversion processes — positioning for the EU's decarbonization push in heavy industry.

How they like to work

TotalEnergies OneTech Belgium operates predominantly as a third-party contributor (4 out of 5 participations), providing industrial expertise and testing environments without leading projects. With 38 unique partners across 11 countries, they connect to large, international consortia — typical for a major industrial player that offers real-world validation capacity rather than driving the research agenda. Their role suggests they are sought after for their industrial infrastructure and process know-how rather than building consortia themselves.

Connected to 38 unique consortium partners across 11 countries, reflecting broad European reach with international linkages including China (via CHEERS). Their network spans academic institutions, research organizations, and industrial partners active in CCS and green chemistry.

What sets them apart

As the R&D arm of a major energy company, they bring something most academic or SME partners cannot: direct access to petroleum refinery operations and heavy industrial processes for real-world testing. Their dual expertise in both CCS engineering and advanced catalysis makes them a rare partner who can address both emission reduction and chemical feedstock transformation. For consortium builders, they offer industrial credibility and scale that strengthens demonstration-phase proposals.

Highlights from their portfolio

• 3D
  Large-scale DMX CO2 capture demonstration at an operational industrial site in Dunkirk with North Sea storage — one of Europe's flagship CCS deployment projects
• CHEERS
  Rare EU-China joint project on industrial emission reduction, applying chemical looping combustion to petroleum refineries and heavy fuel processing
• C123
  Diversification into green chemistry — methane-to-propylene conversion using MOF catalysts, bridging petrochemistry with sustainable chemical production