05-12-2024

Topsoe and Sasol selected to deliver innovative e-fuels technology for an eSAF demonstration plant

Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, and Sasol, a world leader in Fischer-Tropsch technologies and global chemicals and energy company, have been selected to deliver technologies for German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) SAF production demonstration plant.

Sasol and Topsoe will deliver their G2L (Gas to Liquid) e-fuels technology, integrating Topsoe’s innovative eREACT technology and hydroprocessing technology with Sasol’s LTFT (low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch) technology. The demo plant will be part of DLR’s e-fuels Technology Platform Power-to-Liquid Fuels (TPP), and will be located at the Leuna Chemical Complex, Germany.

The TPP facility, which began construction on October 1, 2024, is expected to be the world’s largest research facility for production of e-fuels and the first in which electricity-based fuels can be demonstrated and tested across the entire technology chain. The modular design of the plant allows different processes and technologies to be analysed. The facility aims to optimize production and properties of e-fuels and further develop technologies for scaling to industrial-scale.

Once commissioned, expected in Q4 2027, the demo plant will produce 2500 tons per year of e-fuels, mainly SAF, using renewable feedstock like biogenic CO₂ and green hydrogen. Griesemann Gruppe has been selected as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor.

Sarushen Pillay, Executive Vice President for Business Building, Strategy and Technology at Sasol, said: “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. With a significant amount of funding secured, the DLR’s project is the ideal platform to demonstrate our integrated innovative technologies with the potential of industrial-scale production to drive the fuel transition forward and to showcase, in downstream programs, the further benefits of SAF-fuelled flight.”

Elena Scaltritti, CCO at Topsoe, said: “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 (TPP)" is funded with a total of €130 million euros by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport as part of the Funding Program Renewable Fuels. The competitive call for funding to construct and operate a PtL development and demonstration platform is coordinated by NOW GmbH and supported by the project management agency VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH.

What is eREACT and G2L eREACT is a novel technology for production of low-carbon hydrogen and fuels. The heart of the technology is an innovative electrified reactor design, which can convert a variety of feedstocks into low-carbon hydrogen or other chemicals and fuels. The G2L e-fuels process is an end-to-end Single Point Licensing solution enabling the conversion of renewable feedstocks like captured CO₂ and hydrogen to e-fuels. It combines and integrates technologies from Topsoe and Sasol to optimise hydrogen utilisation, minimise carbon footprint, maximise yields and provide a reliable solution. The process is fully wrapped by Sasol and Topsoe as a Single Point License