CARE-O-SENE featured in 2025 Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin
During the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin on 9 November 2025, CARE-O-SENE was represented by Dr. Sven Godorr, Vice President Technology Management and Startups at Sasol. The summit assembles the brightest minds worldwide to share their scientific breakthroughs in addressing global challenges.
Discussing “Africa’s Energy Shift: Just and Global Collaboration“, Sven Godorr joined three other panelists from academia, industry and government to explore sustainable green fuel pathways co-developed by Africa and Europe. In the discussion, he spoke to the success of the CARE-O-SENE project in co-developing technology with academia and the importance of the complementarity of partners.
The Falling Walls Science Summit is a major, interdisciplinary collaboration and networking event, attracting policy-makers, industrial representatives, academics, early-career researchers and journalists from 7 to 9 November every year. The full panel discussion is available here . Video and images are provided courtesy of the Falling Walls Foundation.
Dr. Sven Godorr, Vice President of Technology Management and Start-ups at Sasol. Copyright: Falling Walls Foundation, Sebastian Rau
Scientists chart the next 100 years of Fischer–Tropsch innovation
In a December article in “Nature Chemical Engineering”, CARE-O-SENE Co-Lead and Researcher, Dr. Denzil Moodley, joins seven other scientists in sharing their vision for the future of the Fischer-Tropsch process. Taking the centenary celebrations in 2025 as a starting point, this select group of science and industry experts explore the remarkable journey of FT synthesis from its coal-rich inception to its key role in sustainable fuel innovation today. The scientists then go on to discuss the many possibilities of the reaction to enrich and evolve society with high-quality fuels and chemicals.
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has particular significance for the CARE-O-SENE project, where it constitutes the core of the collaboration between the academic and industrial partners. In future, much of the scientific success and technological development to come in Fischer-Tropsch will originate in initiatives following the approach of inter-disciplinary collaboration that CARE-O-SENE has pioneered.
The article, aptly entitled “On to the next century of Fischer–Tropsch synthesis“, was published on 17 December 2025 in the “Viewpoint” section of “Nature Chemical Engineering” and can be accessed in full-text view-only version by using this link or alternatively upon free registration with the online journal here .
Driving Sustainable Innovation: Sasol & CARE-O-SENE at CATSA 2025
The Catalysis Society of South Africa (CATSA) Conference, held from 9–12 November at the Emerald Resort & Casino, brought together leading minds in catalysis under the theme: “Using Catalysis to Solve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.”
We had strong representation from Sasol Research & Technology (a plenary by Dr Theo Mudzunga discussing 75 years of Fischer-Tropsch catalysis innovation research at Sasol and two keynotes by Dr Esna du Plessis and Dr Ryan Walmsley on studies of Sasol’s Fe catalysts).).
Young Scientists take centre stage
The young scientists of the CARE-O-SENE consortium showcased cutting-edge research and innovation in Fischer–Tropsch (FT) catalysis. The topic of Mn promotion (a very “South African” metal) in FT catalysts was a key theme of CARE-O-SENE talks. Dr. Jairus (Jerry)Lamola (Sasol) delivered a keynote on the role of Mn promotion in FT catalysis using theory and operando conditions to unravel complexity. An oral presentation from Dr. Revana Chanerika (UCT) also showed how the promoter interaction can be studied with model Co-based catalysts, while Julie-Ann Hoffman (UCT) showed how she used molecular modelling to study effects of poisons on manganese-promoted cobalt-based Fischer–Tropsch catalysts. Shabaaz Abdullah’s (UCT) talk aimed to explain the influence of particle size using model catalysts. These presentations underscored CARE-O-SENE’s leadership in advancing FT catalyst technology for sustainable energy solutions.
Showcasing World-Class Facilities
One of CATSA 2025 delegates, the eminent visitor Prof. Angeliki Lemonidou, from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, had the opportunity to tour Sasol Research and Technology’s state-of-the-art facilities with WP03 leader Denzil Moodley, where CARE-O-SENE catalysts are scaled up for pilot and commercial applications.
CARE-O-SENE and Sasol remain at the forefront of Fischer-Tropsch catalysis research, shaping sustainable technologies for the future.
CARE-O-SENE project members at CATSA2025 in Vanderbijlpark. From left: Mohamed Fadlalla, Revana Chanerika, Julie-Ann Hoffman and Jairus (Jerry) Lamola
Jairus (Jerry) Lamola with CATSA 2025, eminent visitor Prof Angeliki Lemonidou at Sasol Research and Technology offices.
Building Capacity, Scaling Catalysts: PtJ visits Sasol Research and Technology for CARE-O-SENE discussions
Sasol’s Research & Technology (R&T) facilities in Sasolburg recently welcomed guests from Projektträger Jülich (PtJ), Germany.
Ms Kerstin Annassi, Head of Department for Energy Systems, and Ms Kathrin Oberle, Business Economist, visited as part of their engagement with the CARE-O-SENE project — a flagship initiative advancing catalyst technologies for sustainable aviation fuels.
During their visit, Ms Annassi and Ms Oberle met with members of the R&T Executive Committee and the CARE-O-SENE project team. The discussions highlighted Sasol R&T’s pivotal role in the project, particularly in catalyst development and scale-up. The visit underscored the program’s broader impact: fostering international collaboration, accelerating scientific exchange, and strengthening the catalysis community.
A key moment was the interaction with young Sasol scientists, who shared their experiences in the mentorship and exchange programs facilitated by CARE-O-SENE. These initiatives are helping to build a new generation of experts in sustainable fuel technologies.
Ms Annassi also presented PtJ’s ongoing work in Africa, with a strong emphasis on capacity building and knowledge transfer-aligning closely with CARE-O-SENE’s goals.
The visit concluded with a tour of Sasol’s analytical laboratories, world-class catalyst manufacturing and Fischer-Tropsch testing facilities, where “Catalyst 1”, a best-in-class innovation — has been successfully scaled to semi-commercial levels, producing over 80% jet fuel yield.
Following their Sasolburg stop, Ms Annassi and Ms Oberle will continue on to Windhoek to attend ICERA 2025, where Ms Annassi will deliver the opening remarks and Sasol’s Robert Burton will give a presentation on “Catalysis for Sustainable Aviation Fuels: Fischer-Tropsch Pathways”, showcasing the recent work being done in CARE-O-SENE. Thema„Katalyse für nachhaltige Flugkraftstoffe: Fischer-Tropsch-Verfahren” halten wird, in dem er die jüngsten Arbeiten von CARE-O-SENE vorstellen wird.
CARE-O-SENE paper published in the “Journal of Physical Chemistry”
A major output of the CARE-O-SENE project is the large volume of research contributions that continuously further our mutual understanding of sustainable aviation fuels and their related academic fields. One such contribution has now found its way into publication. The paper by Enrico Sireci, Tilman D. Grüger, Philipp N. Plessow, Dmitry I. Sharapa, and Felix Studt was included in Volume 129, Number 29 of the American Chemical Society’s “Journal of Physical Chemistry C” in July 2025 and also featured on that issue’s title page.
The work entitled “Modeling the Shape and Stability of Co Nanoparticles as a Function of Size and Support Interactions through DFT Calculations and Monte Carlo Simulations” can be viewed on the journal’s website via this link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5c02777.
This publication once more illustrates the benefits of international, inter-institutional collaboration in addressing societal challenges, in its course producing new insights to be taken up by researchers worldwide.
Sasol and HZB Deepen Collaboration with Strategic Focus on Digitalization
Sasol Research & Technology and Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) are expanding their partnership into the realm of digitalization, building on their joint efforts in the CARE-O-SENE project and an Industrial Fellowship launched earlier this year. This new initiative marks a significant step forward in leveraging digital technologies to accelerate catalyst innovation and deepen scientific collaboration.
As part of its broader digitalization strategy, Sasol Research and Technology has identified Digital Catalysis, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) as key growth areas for future research. HZB is similarly advancing its expertise in Digital Catalysis and data-driven analysis of complex catalyst characterization datasets. This effort is supported by the establishment of a joint data centre with scientific partners on the HZB campus. Their strong external network further strengthens the potential for impactful collaboration.
Dr. Randy Cunningham, a rising researcher at Sasol Research and Technology, has been selected to work closely with HZB in this emerging field. Holding a PhD in Polymer Science from Stellenbosch University, Cunningham has been trained in Fischer–Tropsch catalysis and has contributed to several CARE-O-SENE initiatives. He is actively developing his digital skillset through hands-on training and recently published a paper applying machine learning to industrial polymerization processes at Sasol . "Being involved in this collaborative initiative at the crossroads of catalysis and data science is a truly exciting prospect. It represents a significant step towards achieving more sustainable and efficient chemical processes on an industrial scale”, Cunninham says.
Dr. Tobias Sontheimer, co-lead of CARE-O-SENE and Head of Strategy at HZB, comments: “We’re thrilled to launch this new chapter in our partnership with Sasol. It not only reinforces our shared commitment to skills development across the consortium but also propels our digitalization agenda forward.”
Andy Msiza, Senior Vice President of Sasol research and Technology and executive sponsor of the program, adds: “This initiative presents an exciting opportunity to nurture our next generation of researchers in a field that is increasingly important to Sasol’s future. There is potential with this approach to unlock value, both in current operations and future innovations, making a significant impact.”
Looking ahead, the collaboration is expected to span multiple dimensions, including skills transfer, advanced modelling of synchrotron datasets generated at BESSY II, and the application of AI to conduct meta-analyses of historical literature and plant data. These efforts aim to generate new insights and drive transformative breakthroughs in catalysis research.
Dr. Randy Cunningham (Sasol Research and Technology) has been selected to collaborate with HZB in the digitalization space. The initiative started in September 2025.
Dr. Angela Siegel takes over from Dr. Dirk Schär as Co-Lead for CARE-O-SENE
Since 2022, Dr. Dirk Schär from Sasol has led the CARE-O-SENE project together with the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin’s Dr. Tobias Sontheimer. After accepting a new mission within the Sasol International Chemicals space, Dr. Schär will now hand over his responsibilities to his colleague, Dr. Angela Siegel.
“I am very happy that we have found an excellent successor for the co-head position in Angela Siegel,” Dirk Schär commented. “She is a highly experienced catalyst researcher and has already played a central role within the consortium, particularly in the development of the new catalyst. I am confident she will continue to serve the project with the same dedication and joy that were my privilege over the last three years.”
Angela Siegel has worked at Sasol’s Brunsbüttel site for more than seven years, where she manages R&D for catalyst carriers. Within CARE-O-SENE, she contributes her expertise to innovative carrier development and serves as the on-site contact for the consortium. With her strong background in alumina-based catalyst carriers and earlier work at BASF/Engelhard, she is ideally placed to help drive the project’s mission of optimising catalyst carriers for sustainable aviation fuels.
On her new role, Angela Siegel said: “I am excited to take on this responsibility and to continue advancing such an important project. Catalyst carriers may be less visible, but they are the foundation of many chemical processes — and in CARE-O-SENE they play a vital role in making sustainable aviation fuels a reality.”
Dirk Schär emphasized that he leaves with something of a heavy heart: “CARE-O-SENE was great fun and joy, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to work with so many highly talented people.” The consortium expresses its deep gratitude for his commitment. He will continue to follow developments in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and act as a Senior Consultant to CARE-O-SENE.
An international group of junior researchers visited the Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT) at KIT on 9th July 2025 as part of a scientific tour in the state of Baden-Württemberg (THE LÄND) following the Nobel Laureate Meetings in Lindau, Germany. This year’s edition of this famous meeting was dedicated to chemistry with a special focus on sustainability and circular chemistry. During the follow-up tour, the thematic focus was also placed on these urgent topics where catalytic technologies are a major driver and CARE-O-SENE serves as an ideal example.
At IKFT, a team around CARE-O-SENE PIs TT-Prof. Dr. Moritz Wolf, Prof. Dr. Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt and Dr. Anna Zimina gave some insight on the importance of catalysis for the feedstock and energy transition. The presentations, poster pitches and laboratory tour were focusing on catalyst development including DFT modelling, catalyst synthesis, shaping and testing, which are all core topics of our CRC. In the second part, the delegation visited the CAT-ACT beamline of KARA, where the importance of catalyst characterisation with special emphasis on X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was highlighted. Our doctoral researcher Enrico Sireci and post-doctoral researcher Dr. Mariam Schulte supported the visit and contributed many examples from the work within the CARE-O-SENE project.
We would like to thank our visitors and the organisers of the tour.
CARE-O-SENE at 100 Years of Fischer-Tropsch: Showcasing Innovation and Collaboration
The CARE-O-SENE consortium took part in the 100 Years of Fischer-Tropsch conference in Mülheim, celebrating a century of a catalytic process that remains vital for sustainable fuel and chemical production. With four invited talks and a strong presence in the poster sessions, CARE-O-SENE showcased its broad expertise in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and catalyst innovation.
The project’s presentations reflected both scientific depth and technological diversity. In In the opening keynote talk, Denzil Moodley (Sasol) provided a historical, state of the art and future perspective on commercial FT development. An important insight was the key role of Industry-Academia collaboration for developing fundamental understanding of catalysts, which is exemplified by CARE-O-SENE. Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt (KIT) presented insights into operando techniques for observing catalysts in action, while Paul Heinzmann (KIT) presented the PtL techno-economic analysis, Tianli Zhong (HZB) reported on novel thin-film model systems, and Peter Pfeifer (INERATEC) highlighted progress on modular reactor concepts and their commercialisation.
As Denzil Moodley put it: “This conference brought together global experts in Fischer-Tropsch technology and resulted in new connections and sparked new ideas. We expect that Fischer-Tropsch is going to play a key role in future energy systems.”
In the poster sessions, the CARE-O-SENE team — particularly early-career researchers — contributed more than 10% of all displayed research. Most posters focused on the fundamental structure–performance relationships in FT catalysis, a key pillar of the project. This strong visibility underlines CARE-O-SENE’s commitment not only to catalyst innovation, but also to fostering research exchange and creating opportunities for young scientists to link academic insight with industrial application.
CARE-O-SENE Fellowship Advances Catalyst Research for Sustainable Fuels
The CARE-O-SENE consortium celebrates the appointment of Dr. Denzil Moodley, Senior Scientist at Sasol Research and Technology, as an Industrial Research Fellow at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB). This fellowship highlights CARE-O-SENE’s commitment to advancing catalyst research for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and addressing hard-to-abate emissions, building on the strong collaborations fostered within the consortium.
Dr Moodley, an expert in industrial catalysis with over 20 years of experience, heads Work Package 3 in CARE-O-SENE, focusing on scaling cobalt-based catalysts for SAF production. His new role at HZB will allow him to continue contributing to CARE-O-SENE’s objectives while also driving broader advancements in catalysis research. The fellowship stems from the relationships and expertise developed through the consortium and also aims to accelerate innovation beyond CARE-O-SENE’s immediate scope.
Tobias Sontheimer, co-lead of the CARE-O-SENE project, remarked: “Denzil’s appointment reflects the strength of the partnerships built within CARE-O-SENE. This fellowship not only supports our mission to develop advanced catalysts but also creates a pathway for exploring new frontiers in sustainable technologies.”
Dr. Moodley’s part-time position at HZB will leverage both industrial and academic strengths to drive innovation. He highlighted the opportunity, stating: “This fellowship underscores the importance of connecting academic research with industrial applications. Building on the foundations laid in CARE-O-SENE, I look forward to advancing catalyst technologies that address critical sustainability challenges as well as developing young scientists.”
This initiative exemplifies CARE-O-SENE’s broader mission of fostering knowledge exchange and creating lasting academic-industrial partnerships. By leveraging the insights and relationships cultivated within the consortium, the fellowship reinforces CARE-O-SENE’s leadership in sustainable energy innovation, accelerating progress toward global decarbonisation goals.
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