A groundbreaking event took place at the Leuna chemical site on October 1, 2024, with key attendees including Federal Minister for Digital and Transport Affairs Volker Wissing and Saxony-Anhalt's Minister-President Reiner Haseloff. The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) is providing approximately euro 130 million to fund the facility's construction, with additional support planned for its research phase, which is set to begin in 2028.
"The TPP is a globally unique research facility for e-fuels," explained Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chair of the DLR Executive Board.
"It will attract top-tier research and industrial partners while positioning Leuna as a hub for cutting-edge, 'made in Germany' projects. DLR's work on this project contributes to a major transformation in energy, mobility, and industry, securing low-carbon fuels that are critical for the future of global mobility."
Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport Affairs, added, "The Technology Platform will be the first facility in the world to test e-fuels comprehensively across the entire technology chain at a semi-industrial scale. It is a key step towards decarbonizing transport, and the knowledge we gain here will bring us closer to achieving our climate goals. The BMDV's support of euro 130 million underscores our commitment to this mission."
Reiner Haseloff, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, noted, "This flagship project is a strong signal for the region's future as a center for the chemical industry. While traditional industries may be fading, forward-looking sectors are taking their place, ensuring that our region remains innovative and ready for a successful future."
Meike Jipp, DLR Divisional Board Member for Energy and Transport, emphasized DLR's comprehensive approach: "The TPP will cover the entire process chain for power-to-liquid fuels, from raw materials to certification and application. Our energy researchers bring deep expertise to this work, and the fuel produced here will be used for research and pilot projects to test in real-world scenarios."
Christof Gunther, Managing Director of InfraLeuna, stated, "This facility focuses on future fuels and innovative technologies that will play a key role in advancing Leuna as a leading location for sustainable chemical manufacturing in Europe."
With an annual production capacity of 2,500 tonnes of e-fuels, TPP will operate on a semi-industrial scale. Its modular design allows for future expansion, making it possible to integrate additional research topics and processes.
The TPP aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial production. DLR's researchers are working with industry experts to scale up technologies and ensure that e-fuel production can be optimized for economic feasibility. This involves testing processes in demonstration operations to refine methods for producing e-fuels on a larger scale.
"DLR's work on efficient and economically viable technologies for producing power-to-liquid fuels is vital for scaling up to industrial levels," said Karsten Lemmer, DLR Executive Board Member for Innovation, Transfer and Research Infrastructure. "This flagship project will facilitate the transfer of technology from research to industry, creating significant advantages for companies in aviation, mobility, and energy sectors, as well as plant engineering."
In addition to reducing carbon emissions, e-fuels can lower other harmful byproducts like nitrogen oxides, soot particles, and water vapor. This is particularly important in aviation, where non-CO2 effects can be even more damaging to the climate than CO2 itself. Power-to-liquid fuels can be engineered to minimize these impacts, offering a significant environmental advantage.
Related Links
DLR Institute of Combustion Technology
Bio Fuel Technology and Application News
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