The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) supports technology-open research and development of renewable fuels and thus makes a contribution to the implementation of the federal government's climate protection plan, including a 40-42% reduction in CO2 emissions in the transport sector by 2030. With renewable fuels ( electricity-based fuels from renewable energy sources (EE) and advanced biofuels) can achieve greenhouse gas reductions for modes of transport that cannot be electrified in the medium term or only to a limited extent in the long term. The BMVI is currently working on a funding concept for the production of electricity-based fuels. The aim of promoting renewable fuels is, on the one hand, to close remaining research gaps and, on the other hand, to achieve the market ramp-up. In particular with liquid electricity-based fuels (PtL, Power-to-Liquid) there is a need for R&D with regard to individual process steps (e.g. CO2 separation from the atmosphere) as well as the integration of process steps in a coherent overall process chain, which is essentially based on renewable energies . In addition, there is still optimization and efficiency potential with regard to production costs, energy consumption and sustainable raw material procurement.
The existing research and development needs could be met by setting up a platform for the development, testing and demonstration of production processes for power-to-liquid fuels (PtL platform). In addition, such a platform could usefully complement and accelerate the market launch of PtL fuels.
The BMVI is considering financing the construction of such a PtL platform. For this reason, the detailed conception and planning of such a PtL platform should be developed. The overarching goal of the service contract is therefore to carry out conceptual and technical preparatory work for setting up such a PtL platform.
The Federal Government's goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050. Renewable fuels make an important contribution to achieving climate targets in the transport sector. Especially for traffic applications where electrification based on batteries or hydrogen-based fuel cells is technically difficult in the medium to long term (e.g. shipping and air transport), the use of liquid fuels is a decisive lever for implementing sustainable transport. In addition, renewable liquid fuels, for example by adding conventional fuels, can have a climate-protecting effect on the existing fleet. Due to the limited potential of biofuels, extensive use of electricity-based liquid fuels (PtL fuels) will be necessary in the medium to long term.
PtL fuels have not yet been established on the market and there are no generation plants on an industrial scale. The process technology technologies of PtL production are largely available. However, there is still a need for research and development with regard to individual process steps (e.g. CO2 separation from the atmosphere) and the integration of the entire production chain based on renewable energies. In addition, there is still room for improvement and efficiency in terms of production costs, energy consumption and sustainable raw material procurement.
The existing research and development needs could be addressed by establishing a platform for the development, testing and demonstration of production processes for power-to-liquid fuels (PtL platform). In order to be able to address different R&D needs, such a PtL platform should consist of a research and a demonstration module. The research module would include a research facility for R&D activities on a laboratory scale, including an infrastructure for the analysis of PtL fuel products, among other things. For the testing of systems under real operating conditions, the demonstration module would provide a demonstration system including ancillary systems (e.g. water treatment) and the corresponding infrastructure. The demonstration module would include all the necessary process steps for PtL production, excluding power generation. The production capacity should go significantly beyond existing demonstration plants in Germany to support a market ramp-up through the scaling steps of the technologies. To guarantee research and development close to the market, such a PtL platform should also be characterized by network activities with science and industry. Suitable locations as well as consistent technical and organizational operating concepts of such a PtL platform are still to be identified. Against this background, extensive conceptual and technical planning work is required for a potential implementation of such a PtL platform, which should be carried out as part of this service contract.
First, an analysis of technologies and process engineering of PtL production is to be carried out. This serves as a technical basis for the assessment of targeted technologies of a PtL demonstration module as part of a PtL platform. Based on this, conceptual proposals for the operation of a modular PtL platform are to be created, which should serve the AG as a basis for information on the design of a demonstration module of a PtL platform (AP1).
In addition, suitable locations for a PtL platform are to be identified and prioritized based on different evaluation criteria (AP2).
In a next step, the technical conception and planning of a demonstration module and a research module will be carried out (WP 3).
At the same time, a proposal for organizational and legal design is to be drawn up, which includes the organizational form and structure as well as the integration of cooperation partners (AP4).
The structure of the demonstration and / or research module is not part of this tender.