Completion of the First e-Fuel Plant Module!

May 15, 2025

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(INERATEC) The first module of our e-Fuel pioneer plant was picked up from the INERATEC headquarters in Karlsruhe after a successful FAT (Factory Acceptance Test). It was then transported to its destination in the Industrial Park Frankfurt Höchst, where it is now being installed and getting ready for operation - a pivotal moment for our pioneer project and thus for the future of sustainable e-Fuels!

The further modules will complete the pioneer system in the next steps. Thanks to our modular approach, the first modules can already be installed while others are still in manufacturing or undergoing FAT.

Step by step, the modules will be delivered and installed until the beginning of next year. In 2024, this facility will transition into operation and produce up to 2.500 tons of sustainable e-Fuel annually, recycling up to 8,000 tons of CO2 in the production process. Each litre of e-Fuel directly replaces one litre of fossil fuel. This way, we succeed in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and their negative impact on our climate, reduce the need for fossil crude oil and actively defossilize mobility! Follow along our exciting journey: READ MORE WATCH VIDEO

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Europe’s largest eFuel production plant goes into operation in Germany (Ineratec/Biobased Diesel Daily)
Clariant’s ShiftMax™ 100 RE catalyst powers Ineratec’s new eFuels plant (Clariant/Biobased Diesel Daily)

Excerpt from Ineratec/Biobased Diesel Daily: The German cleantech company Ineratec officially inaugurated Era One June 3, a power-to-liquid plant in Frankfurt-Höchst for the production of eFuels and eChemicals that the firm said will usher in a new era of sustainable mobility.

The plant in is the largest of its kind in Europe, according to Ineratec, and will produce up to 2,500 metric tons of carbon-neutral eFuels annually.

This will make commercial-scale volumes of synthetic fuels available in Europe for the first time, the company stated, marking a step towards achieving the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets.

Ineratec started operating the plant a few weeks ago.

The company said Era One shows that climate-neutral eFuels are ready for the market.

“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 grand-opening ceremony attended by high-ranking guests from politics, industry and science. “Climate-neutral eFuels are not just technologically possible. Era One shows that they are also ready for the market. We are replacing fossil molecules with green molecules—and thereby making a decisive contribution to a climate-friendly future.”

Kaweh Mansoori, the minister of economic affairs for the state of Hesse, commented on the significance of the plant in Frankfurt.

“The opening of Era One marks a landmark milestone for an independent European energy supply,” Mansoori said. “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.”

The modular design of Ineratec’s plants makes it possible to quickly and efficiently expand production capacity, according to the company.

By 2030, Ineratec 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 for sustainable aviation fuels.

Era One uses CO2 from biogenic sources and green hydrogen to produce synthetic crude oil, which is then processed into sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF), eDiesel and other products.

The two feedstocks for the new plant come directly from the Frankfurt-Höchst industrial park where it is located.

The CO2 comes from a biogas plant that recycles waste, and the hydrogen is a byproduct of chlorine production.

Ineratec eFuels are “drop-in ready,” meaning they can be used without any modifications to existing systems, such as aircraft engines.

Synthetic crude oil can be used not only to produce sustainable fuel but also base chemicals, such as in the production of sustainable plastics.

Thus, the company noted the technology also contributes to the sustainable transformation of the chemical industry.

Era One is being made possible in part by a 70-million-euro (USD$79.8 million) financing package consisting of 40-million euros (USD$45.6 million) in venture debt from the European Investment Bank and a 30-million-euro (USD$34.2 million) grant from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst.

The support of these two major investors underscores the project’s strategic importance for the decarbonization of sectors that are hard to electrify, according to Ineratec.

The Environmental Innovation Programme launched by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment is also providing funding for the commercial implementation of Ineratec’s technological innovation.

Other investors in Ineratec include Piva Capital, HG Ventures, TDK Ventures, Copec Wind Ventures, RockCreek, Emerald, Samsung Ventures, Engie New Ventures, Safran Corporate Ventures and Honda. READ MORE

Excerpt from Clariant/Biobased Diesel Daily: “Our collaboration with Ineratec demonstrates how Clariant’s catalyst technologies are helping to make sustainable fuels a commercial reality,” said Georg Anfang, vice president at Clariant. “As global demand for sustainable aviation fuels continues to grow, driven by both regulatory requirements and corporate-sustainability commitments, our catalyst technologies are helping to bridge the gap between conventional and renewable energy systems.”

Tim Boeltken, co-founder and CEO of Ineratec, added, “Together with Clariant we have formed a strong innovation partnership to ensure highest quality and robustness of our new facility. Their ShiftMax™ 100 RE catalyst provides excellent activity and stability, which is essential for our innovative technology. This enables us to produce drop-in ready eFuels that meet the demanding standards of the fuel industry.”

Based in Karlsruhe, Germany, Ineratec’s modular, scalable plants use renewable hydrogen and biogenic CO2 to produce kerosene-SAF, synthetic gasoline, eDiesel or eWaxes.

Clariant’s ShiftMax™ 100 RE catalyst presents several critical advantages for industrial eFuels production.

Used in the reverse water-gas shift process, the nickel-based reforming catalyst offers high efficiency in converting green hydrogen and captured CO2 into renewable syngas, the precursor for synthetic fuel.

It also excels in selectivity, resistance to coking and high-temperature stability while offering an extended lifetime.

These combined properties enable greater productivity and durability, which are paramount for economic viability. READ MORE