Topsoe, Sasol, DLR, and Griesemann collaborate on Germany’s largest e-fuels research facility to advance scalable power-to-liquid sustainable aviation fuels.
Topsoe, a global leader in advanced energy transition technologies, has entered into a cooperation agreement with Sasol, Griesemann Gruppe, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to support the development, construction, and operation of DLR’s new e-fuels demonstration facility in Germany. The initiative focuses on advancing research and production of e-Sustainable Aviation Fuels (e-SAF), a crucial step toward decarbonizing the aviation industry.
The demonstration facility will be a central element of DLR’s Technology Platform Power-to-Liquid Fuels (TPP), which is being established at the Leuna Chemical Complex in Germany. This platform aims to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale research and industrial-scale fuel production, testing innovative processes and technologies under real-world conditions.
Elena Scaltritti, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, emphasized the importance of such initiatives, noting that “demonstration facilities like TPP are vital to proving new technologies and showcasing the commercial potential of e-fuels.” She added that the collaboration between Topsoe, DLR, Sasol, and Griesemann will accelerate the rollout of power-to-liquid technologies and enable scalable solutions for sustainable fuel production.
Sasol’s Executive Vice President for Business Building, Strategy and Technology, Sarushen Pillay, highlighted the longstanding relationship between the partners. He remarked that the selection of Sasol’s efficient and high-yielding G2L™ e-fuels technology for the TPP, coupled with the project’s funding, represents an important milestone. According to Pillay, this cooperation will contribute significantly to developing scalable e-fuel production processes and advancing flight testing for a fully decarbonized aviation sector.
Björn Griesemann, CEO of Griesemann Gruppe, noted that the Power-to-Liquid Fuels platform provides the foundation for future large-scale sustainable fuel production. His company’s engineering expertise will help transform the research results and technologies developed by Topsoe and Sasol into scalable, practical applications. Griesemann also stressed that their experience with modular projects and renewable energy systems would directly support the TPP’s development.
According to Manfred Aigner, DLR’s Coordinator for Sustainable Fuels, the TPP marks a crucial step toward enabling the market ramp-up of power-to-liquid fuels. As a flagship research platform, it aims to close the gap between laboratory innovations and refinery-scale production by facilitating application-oriented research in partnership with experienced technology providers.
Construction of the TPP began on October 1, 2024. Once completed, it will become the world’s largest e-fuels research facility, capable of demonstrating electricity-based fuel production across the entire technology value chain. The plant’s modular design allows for testing multiple processes and systems, supporting a wide range of R&D initiatives.
The collaboration builds on Topsoe and Sasol’s selection to deliver their integrated G2L™ e-fuels solution—combining Topsoe’s eREACT™ electrified reactor technology and hydroprocessing systems with Sasol’s LTFT™ low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch process. Griesemann Gruppe serves as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor.
About the Technologies:
Topsoe’s eREACT™ is an innovative electrified reactor system designed for low-carbon hydrogen and fuel production from diverse feedstocks. Meanwhile, the G2L™ e-fuels process provides an end-to-end licensing solution that converts renewable feedstocks—such as captured CO2 and green hydrogen—into e-fuels, maximizing yield and minimizing carbon intensity through integrated design.
