P2X-Europe, the joint venture between H&R and Mabanaft, is launching SynZero™, its new brand for synthetic specialty chemical products and e-fuels with sustainability standards that exceed legal and regulatory requirements. H&R and Mabanaft are thus reaffirming their pioneering role in their respective business sectors when it comes to climate protection and are setting a new sustainability standard for synthetic power-to-liquids (PtL) products.
“Mabanaft is playing an active role in shaping the energy transition, and we offer our customers innovative mobility solutions to reduce their CO₂ emissions,” explains Volker Ebeling, Senior Vice President New Energy, Chemicals & Gas at Mabanaft. “With the launch of SynZero™, we are demonstrating to our customers that we are ready and able to support them on their journey towards a carbon-neutral future.”
Whilst SynZero™ products reduce some of the undesirable aspects of the production and use of fossil fuels, including greenhouse gas emissions, they are chemically identical and functionally equivalent to petroleum-based fuels. SynZero™ products can therefore replace conventional hydrocarbons derived from fossil raw materials without causing any extra hassle for consumers: SynZero™ e-fuels can be refuelled at the petrol station just like conventional fuels. Existing infrastructure and vehicle fleets do not need to be retrofitted or technically adapted, and the refuelling process remains the same.
As SynZero™ e-fuels are produced using green electricity, water and biogenic CO₂, they maintain a sustainable carbon balance. Whilst the combustion of fossil fuels is a one-way process in which carbon is released from ‘sealed’ geological reserves into the atmosphere, biogenic CO₂ has a carbon-neutral balance, as it does not release more carbon into the atmosphere than has previously been sequestered by trees and plants. Combustion merely releases back into the atmosphere the carbon that was absorbed during the plants’ growth.
“H&R intends to continue supplying its customers with tried-and-tested chemical and pharmaceutical specialities whilst simultaneously transitioning its portfolio towards more climate-friendly products. The use of synthetic waxes as a raw material is a key pillar of our strategy,” emphasises Detlev Woesten, Chief Sustainability Officer at H&R and Co-CEO of P2X-Europe. “Our additional advantages are the vertically integrated end-to-end technology solutions and our shareholders’ market access in the mobility and chemicals sectors.”
The innovative power-to-liquid demonstration plant in Hamburg is set to produce around 200 tonnes of SynZero™ e-fuels for the mobility sector and around 150 tonnes of SynZero™ waxes for applications in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries annually from 2022 onwards.
“With SynZero™ products, P2X-Europe aims to maximise the climate-friendliness of synthetic hydrocarbons produced from green hydrogen and biogenic CO₂. The SynZero™ brand enables differentiation in terms of carbon sources, end products and sustainability characteristics. It is the company’s response to rising consumer demand for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), cleaner fuels and non-fossil chemical feedstocks. “With SynZero™, P2X-Europe offers not only a premium brand for synthetic fuels, but also a credible decarbonisation strategy and a net-zero carbon outlook for its customers,” emphasises Dr Christoph Weber, Co-CEO of P2X-Europe.
In July, P2X-Europe announced its plans to expand its power-to-liquid business with its first project in Portugal as part of a joint venture with the Navigator Company. The joint venture opens up prospects for 80,000 tonnes per year of renewable SynZero™ PtL products and eSAF.
P2X-Europe GmbH & Co. KG is an independent Power-to-Liquid (PtL) project development company, backed by two German firms based in Hamburg; the Mabanaft Group, a leading independent and integrated energy company, and the H&R Group, a speciality chemicals company specialising in the development and manufacture of specialised chemical and pharmaceutical products. P2X-Europe develops, builds and invests in vertically integrated, end-to-end Power-to-Liquid technology solutions to enable the commercialisation of synthetic net-zero fuels from a variety of biogenic carbon sources. Headquartered in Hamburg, the company has set itself the goal of becoming a leading global provider of renewable hydrogen and environmentally friendly fuels, with a focus on sustainable aviation fuels. The company is building a strong and diverse portfolio of large-scale Power-to-X projects across various sectors and regions.
Mabanaft GmbH & Co. KG is a leading independent and integrated energy company that provides its customers with innovative energy solutions in the transport, heating and industrial sectors. In addition, the company is active in the trading of petroleum products, natural gas liquids, chemicals and biofuels.
H&R GmbH & Co. KGaA: Listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, H&R KGaA is a speciality chemicals company active in the development and manufacture of speciality chemical and pharmaceutical products based on crude oil, and in the production of precision plastic components.
