INERATEC opens Europe’s largest commercial-scale e-fuels production plant

German cleantech company INERATEC has inaugurated its ERA ONE commercial-scale power-to-liquid plant in Frankfurt, which it claims is the largest of its kind in Europe and will produce up to 2,500 tonnes of carbon-neutral e-fuels annually. Operations at the plant opened recently and uses CO2 from biogenic sources and green hydrogen to produce synthetic crude oil, before being processed into sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF), e-diesel and other chemical products such as sustainable plastics. The two feedstocks are supplied directly from the Frankfurt-Höchst industrial park, where the plant is located. The CO2 comes from a biogas plant that recycles waste and the hydrogen is a by-product of chlorine production. ERA ONE has received a €70 million ($80m) financing package consisting of €40 million in venture debt from the European Investment Bank and a €30 million grant from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst.

“With ERA ONE, we offer a genuine solution to one of the biggest problems of our time: emissions in sectors that are hard to electrify, like aviation and shipping,” said Tim Böltken, co-founder and CEO of INERATEC, at the plant’s inauguration. “Climate-neutral e-fuels are not just technologically possible – ERA ONE shows they are also ready for market.”

The company says the modular design of the plant makes it possible to quickly and efficiently expand production capacity. By 2030 it plans to increase its annual production several times over with additional projects.

“This scaling is crucial for achieving regulatory requirements, such as the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which sets binding quotas,” it adds.

As well as INERATEC’s two major investors, the Environmental Innovation Programme launched by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment is also providing funding for the commercial implementation of the company’s technological innovation.

Other investors include Piva Capital, HG Ventures, TDK Ventures, Copec WIND Ventures, RockCreek, Emerald, Samsung Ventures, ENGIE New Ventures, Safran Corporate Ventures and Honda.

“The opening of ERA ONE marks a landmark milestone for an independent European energy supply,” commented Kaweh Mansoori, Minister of Economic Affairs for the State of Hesse. “It demonstrates the attractiveness of Hesse as a location for innovative companies. This project embodies the fusion of modern technology, ecological responsibility and the development of new, high-quality industries.”

Photo: The inauguration of INERATEC’s ERA ONE PtL plant in Frankfurt

Christopher Surgenor

Editor

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