Sustainability, resource conservation and the efficient use of raw materials are among the most important issues of our time. On Wednesday, 14 September 2022, H&R inaugurated the new Power-to-Liquid (PtL) demonstration plant at the Ölwerke Schindler GmbH production site, which will be used to produce synthesis-based alternatives to fossil raw materials. The demonstration project is one of the world’s first PtL concepts on an industrial scale, producing so-called e-fuels and synthetic crude waxes, which will be marketed via the P2X-Europe joint venture between the two partner companies, Mabanaft and H&R.
The power-to-liquid synthesis technology, developed by the Karlsruhe-based technology company INERATEC, will in future produce around 200 tonnes of e-fuels for road and rail transport, as well as around 150 tonnes of waxes for use in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries. “For over 10 years, we have been working to harness the potential of green hydrogen and the climate-friendly raw materials produced from it, and we are proud to be setting a milestone, together with Mabanaft, in the production and marketing of specialised chemical and pharmaceutical products and e-fuels from renewable raw materials. Our future range of diverse non-fossil products is our contribution to a climate-neutral future and enables us to play an active role in shaping the energy transition,” says Detlev Wösten, Chief Sustainability Officer at H&R and Co-CEO of P2X-Europe.
In contrast to the fossil-based origin of these raw materials, the PtL process enables the production of synthesis-based hydrocarbons using sustainable and climate-friendly components. To achieve this, green hydrogen from the electrolysis hydrogen plant, which came on stream in 2017, is first processed together with biogenicCO₂ to produce synthesis gas, from which synthetic hydrocarbons are subsequently obtained. The plant is part of the North German Real-World Laboratory (NRL) network, in which 50 partners from various generation and consumption sectors are jointly testing new approaches to climate neutrality as part of an Energy Transition Alliance.
With the official inauguration of the plant, the NextGate project partners are completing an important part of the commissioning phase, during which all key systems have already been brought online and the first batches of synthetic hydrocarbons have been produced. Over the coming weeks, operations will be optimised to enable continuous production. “We will soon be producing e-fuels and synthetic raw materials and refining them into end products that meet specifications, as well as into feedstocks for chemical and pharmaceutical products,” said Dr Thorsten Frick, Director of Transformation at H&R. The company’s stated aim is to transform the chemical feedstock industry and also to support its own customers in achieving their climate protection targets.
Over the next few years, building on the volumes from the NextGate demonstration project, H&R and Mabanaft will facilitate the market ramp-up by scaling up production volumes to a commercial scale through projects run by the joint venture company P2X-Europe.
“We must reduce our dependence on fossil raw materials. At the same time, for many aspects of our everyday social and economic lives, we also need climate-friendly alternatives to fossil-based liquid fuels that can be used directly and easily as substitutes. With the help of PtL technology, we can provide the aviation, shipping and rail sectors with synthetic fuels in the form ofcarbon-neutral e-fuels, thereby making a significant contribution to the defossilisation of these sectors,” explains Volker Ebeling, Senior Vice President New Energy, Chemicals & Gas at Mabanaft.
Dr Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: “The power-to-liquid demonstration plant by H&R and Mabanaft is an important project for climate protection and the energy transition in Germany. Synthetic fuels and feedstocks will become increasingly important for industry, logistics and mobility in the coming years. The new plant demonstrates the technological expertise and innovative strength of Hamburg’s industrial sector.”
Right next to the new process plant is the mobile multimedia and information centre run by en2x – the German Association for Fuels and Energy, where the transformation of the sector is now being demonstrated to industry professionals, stakeholders and other interested parties in a practical and illustrative manner. At the “futurefuels.experience”, groups of visitors have the opportunity to learn about key aspects of hydrogen and alternative fuels and raw materials right on site.
P2X-Europe GmbH & Co. KG is an independent Power-to-Liquid (PtL) project development company, supported 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 supplier 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 offers its customers 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.
