The project’s technical core focused on a comprehensive techno‑economic and ecological assessment of Power‑to‑Liquid (PtL) concepts, carried out in the final work package (AP 7). Central to this effort was a detailed potential analysis of renewable electricity and CO₂ availability at local, national and international scales. The analysis distinguished between fossil, biogenic and atmospheric CO₂, recognising that the carbon cycle’s fast and slow components influence the climate impact of synthesized kerosene. By mapping the spatial distribution and quantitative availability of CO₂ sources, the team quantified the potential feedstock for PtL plants across Germany. The study identified 143 million tonnes of CO₂ emitted in 2017 by the industrial sectors examined, with 56.5 Mt from the iron‑and‑steel industry and 40 Mt from the chemical sector. Process‑related emissions were dominated by iron‑and‑steel, followed by the mineral industry, while the glass‑and‑ceramics and chemical industries had the highest number of individual emitters.
Two future‑scenario analyses were developed. The Renewable Fuel Supply (RFS) scenario assumes that fossil‑fuel‑derived energy is replaced by renewable methane, without distinguishing between biogenic or synthetic sources. Using specific emission factors for each fossil fuel (e.g., natural gas 55.9 t CO₂/TJ, hard coal 93.9 t CO₂/TJ, lignite 108.2 t CO₂/TJ), the scenario calculates proportional emission reductions for each site and projects the remaining CO₂ emissions for 2050. The Alternative Technologies and Renewable Energy Supply (ATRES) scenario incorporates a broader shift to alternative production technologies and electrification, drawing on studies such as “Klimaneutrale Industrie” and “Treibhausgasneutrales Deutschland 2050”. In ATRES, electricity is assumed to be greenhouse‑gas‑neutral, sourced from renewables, and the scenario applies the same emission‑factor methodology to estimate residual emissions.
The project’s simulation work (AP 6) provided detailed plant‑level models of PtL concepts, which were fed into the techno‑economic and ecological assessment in AP 7. Monthly teleconferences among partners—INERATEC, KIT, Climeworks, Siemens Energy, BHL, TUHH, and the Zentrum für Luft‑und Raumfahrt e.V.—ensured continuous alignment between the simulation outputs and the assessment inputs. TUHH led several work packages, coordinating the integration of simulation results and the development of the potential analysis framework. The collaboration also engaged with the aireg Initiative and the Technology Platform PtL to align the project’s findings with broader policy and industry initiatives.
The project ran over the standard German research funding cycle, with regular progress reviews and a final reporting phase. Funding was provided through a national research programme, supporting the consortium’s joint effort to evaluate the viability of renewable‑fuel production pathways. The combined technical and collaborative structure enabled a rigorous assessment of PtL’s potential, offering quantified pathways for reducing industrial CO₂ emissions and integrating renewable electricity into the aviation fuel supply chain.