Topsoe and Sasol have been awarded a contract to provide advanced technologies for the German Aerospace Centre’s (DLR) upcoming demonstration plant for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of innovative fuel solutions, applying Sasol’s Gas to Liquid (G2L™) e-fuels technology, which integrates Topsoe’s eREACT™ and hydroprocessing technologies with Sasol's low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch (LTFT™) technology.
The demonstration plant is strategically planned to be situated at the Leuna Chemical Complex in Germany and will form part of DLR’s e-fuels technology platform known as the Power-to-Liquid Fuels Technology Platform (TPP). Construction of the facility commenced on 1 October 2024, and upon completion, it is anticipated to be the largest research facility globally dedicated to the production of e-fuels. It will serve as the first facility where electricity-based fuels can be tested and demonstrated throughout the entire technology chain.
Designed with a modular framework, the plant will allow for the examination of various processes and technologies, which aims to optimise both production methods and the properties of e-fuels. This initiative is expected to contribute significantly to the technological advancements necessary for scaling up production to an industrial level.
Once operational, the demonstration plant is projected to produce 2,500 tonnes per year (tpy) of e-fuels, primarily focusing on SAF. The raw materials for production will include renewable feedstocks such as biogenic CO2 and green hydrogen, aligning with global efforts towards sustainable energy solutions. Griesemann Gruppe has been selected to manage engineering, procurement, and construction for the facility.
Sarushen Pillay, Executive Vice President for Business Building, Strategy and Technology at Sasol, commented, “Alongside our long-standing partner Topsoe, we are excited to be selected to provide our G2L™ e-fuels technology, utilising our Sasol LTFT™ technology and catalyst in this groundbreaking research project, which is testament to our combined technologies.” He further noted that the securing of significant funding underscores the project's potential to advance industrial-scale fuel production and the benefits of SAF-fuelled aviation.
In a similar vein, Elena Scaltritti, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, remarked, “Innovating and demonstrating SAF production technologies is vital to increase deployment of e-fuels and eventually reaching global net zero by 2050. We’re proud to work on this project with our trusted partner Sasol and to have been selected by DLR for this cutting-edge project that will demonstrate the potential in securing industrial-scale production to drive the fuel transition forward.”
The Power-to-Liquid Fuels Technology Platform is backed by substantial funding of €130 million from Germany's Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, part of its broader initiative to foster Renewable Fuels. The competitive grant process for constructing and operating the PtL development and demonstration platform is coordinated by NOW GmbH, with additional support from the project management agency VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH.
This project reflects a growing trend within the industry focused on the development of alternative fuel technologies, a key area of innovation poised to reshape business practices across various sectors, particularly aviation.
Source: Noah Wire Services