Forum on the Development of Renewable Fuels at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) in Berlin
The consortium of the demonstration project “E-BO(2)t” is meeting in Berlin to discuss current issues related to the production of electricity-based fuels together with funding agencies, policymakers, industry, and researchers.
Germany is considered an international leader in innovative production technologies for renewable fuels. Numerous companies and research institutions are working on the further development of climate-friendly fuels. Where do they stand today? What has already been achieved, and where are the challenges? On September 17, 2024, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) hosted a networking meeting on-site in Berlin to promote professional exchange and identify synergies. Present at the event were representatives from research projects under the funding program “Development of Renewable Fuels”, as well as stakeholders from politics and industry. FiW, represented by Fabio Voit, introduced the “E-BO(2)t” project with a roll-up banner.
The event focused on networking stakeholders from academia, industry, and politics. Additionally, the funding projects under the “Development of Renewable Fuels” directive were presented through a poster session and keynote speeches. Afterwards, three workshops were held on the topics of (1) scaling up production plants, (2) CO2 sourcing for renewable fuels, and (3) SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) production technologies. A key thematic focus was the role of methanol in aviation and maritime sectors, which was discussed during a panel session.
The “E-BO(2)t” project was represented on-site by one representative from each consortium partner: Thorsten Lind (Emschergenossenschaft AöR), Benedikt Bender (OWI Fuel Science gGmbH), Hans-Georg Beinke (Aspens GmbH), and Fabio Voit (FiW e. V.).
In engaging group discussions and one-on-one conversations, the future carbon management strategy for the energy supply of the mobility sector was explored. The debates covered topics ranging from the creation of appropriate regulatory market frameworks to the funding needs of novel technologies. The focus was on renewable CO2 point sources such as biogas plants, wastewater treatment plants, or refineries, which already offer an easily accessible carbon supply. These are considered "low-hanging fruits" compared to the recovery of CO2 from the atmosphere (Direct Air Capture), providing opportunities to quickly tap into new carbon sources. This is expected to enable the substitution of fossil carbon sources like natural gas or petroleum for the production of electricity-based fuel alternatives from hydrogen and CO2, such as e-methane, e-methanol, or e-gasoline. Given the increasing demand for renewable CO2-based fuels, wastewater treatment plants are expected to play an increasingly important role as a long-term source of green carbon.
In conclusion, we would like to thank the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, NOW GmbH, VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, and the Agency for Renewable Resources (Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V.) for organizing the successful networking event. A sightseeing tour through Berlin's government district the evening before was, of course, a highlight.
We look forward to continued collaboration and are excited about the progress of the projects under the “Development of Renewable Fuels” funding directive.
