Germany is stepping up its decarbonization efforts in aviation with a new power-to-liquid (PtL) initiative at the Leuna Chemical Complex. Four industry leaders, Topsoe, Sasol, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Griesemann Gruppe have formalized a cooperation agreement to construct, operate, and conduct research at DLR’s Technology Platform Power-to-Liquid Fuels (TPP), a large-scale facility focused on producing and testing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
The TPP aims to serve as both a research hub and a pathway to industrial-scale SAF production. Construction began on October 1, 2024, positioning it as the world’s largest e-fuels research plant and the first capable of demonstrating the entire power-to-liquid value chain, from CO₂ and hydrogen inputs to synthetic kerosene.
DLR’s Sustainable Fuels Coordinator, Manfred Aigner, described the TPP as a “lighthouse project” for the market ramp-up of PtL fuels, designed to close the gap between laboratory research and refinery deployment. Its modular design enables the analysis of various process configurations, providing a crucial foundation for assessing economic scalability and technical performance.
Each partner contributes specific expertise essential to realizing the project. Topsoe brings its eREACT™ electrified reactor and hydroprocessing technologies, which convert renewable feedstocks into hydrogen and synthetic fuels using electricity instead of fossil-based heat. Sasol provides its LTFT™ (low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch) process and integrates the G2L™ e-fuels technology, a single-point licensing model that combines CO₂ capture and hydrogen utilization to maximize yields while minimizing carbon intensity. Griesemann Gruppe acts as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, ensuring the transition from design to industrial-scale application.
Topsoe’s eREACT™ introduces an electrified method of producing low-carbon hydrogen and synthesis gas, replacing traditional heat-driven reforming with renewable electricity. Integrated with Sasol’s Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, it allows the conversion of captured CO₂ and renewable hydrogen into drop-in aviation fuels with significantly lower lifecycle emissions. The G2L™ system integrates these technologies into a unified process, providing a streamlined licensing approach that minimizes technical and commercial risk for developers.
For Griesemann Gruppe, the TPP represents a practical step in closing the gap between research and industrial implementation. CEO Björn Griesemann emphasized that the company’s experience in modular construction and renewable energy integration will ensure the project’s feasibility and scalability. The TPP also supports the European Union’s strategy to expand SAF production under the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, addressing the sector’s current shortfall—SAF represented less than 0.1% of total jet fuel demand in Europe in 2024.
Sasol’s Executive Vice President for Business Building, Strategy and Technology, Sarushen Pillay, noted that this collaboration continues a longstanding partnership between Sasol, Topsoe, and DLR. He called it a vital step toward enabling large-scale SAF production and facilitating downstream testing for aviation certification. Topsoe’s Chief Commercial Officer, Elena Scaltritti, added that demonstration projects like the TPP are essential to proving the technical and commercial viability of new fuel technologies and accelerating their market readiness.
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