Topsoe and Sasol selected to deliver innovative e-fuels technology for an eSAF demonstration plant in Germany

• Topsoe and Sasol have been selected to provide their G2L™ e-fuels technology for the initial built-up of the German Aerospace Center’s Technology Platform Power-to-Liquid Fuels at the Leuna Chemical Complex in Germany.
• Once commissioned, expected in Q4 2027, the plant will produce, for research purposes 2500 tons per year of e-fuels mainly sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
• With €130 million of funding secured from the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), the plant will be the largest facility for production of e-fuels for research.

Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, and Sasol, a world leader in Fischer-Tropsch technologies and global chemicals & energy company, have been selected to deliver technologies for German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) SAF production demonstration plant.

Sasol and Topsoe will deliver their G2L™ (Gas to Liquid) e-fuels technology, integrating Topsoe’s innovative eREACT™ technology and hydroprocessing technology with Sasol’s LTFT™ (low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch) technology. The demo plant will be part of DLR’s e-fuels Technology Platform Power-to-Liquid Fuels (TPP), and will be located at the Leuna Chemical Complex, Germany.

The TPP facility, which began construction on October 1, 2024, is expected to be the world’s largest research facility for production of e-fuels and the first in which electricity-based fuels can be demonstrated and tested across the entire technology chain. The modular design of the plant allows different processes and technologies to be analyzed. The facility aims to optimize production and properties of e-fuels and further develop technologies for scaling to industrial-scale.

Once commissioned, expected in Q4 2027, the demo plant will produce 2500 tons per year of e-fuels, mainly SAF, using renewable feedstock like biogenic CO₂ and green hydrogen. Griesemann Gruppe has been selected as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor.

Sarushen Pillay, Executive Vice President for Business Building, Strategy and Technology at Sasol, said:
“Alongside our long-standing partner Topsoe, we are excited to be selected to provide our G2L™ e-fuels technology, utilising our Sasol LTFT™ technology and catalyst in this groundbreaking research project, which is testament to our combined technologies. With a significant amount of funding secured, the DLR’s project is the ideal platform to demonstrate our integrated innovative technologies with the potential of industrial-scale production to drive the fuel transition forward and to showcase, in downstream programs, the further benefits of SAF-fuelled flight.”

Elena Scaltritti, CCO at Topsoe, said:
“Innovating and demonstrating SAF production technologies is vital to increase deployment of e-fuels and eventually reaching global net-zero by 2050. We’re proud to work on this project with our trusted partner Sasol and to have been selected by DLR for this cutting-edge project that will demonstrate the potential in securing industrial-scale production to drive the fuel transition forward.”

The "Power-to-Liquid Fuels Technology Platform (TPP)" is funded with a total of €130 million euros by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport as part of the Funding Program Renewable Fuels. The competitive call for funding to construct and operate a PtL development and demonstration platform is coordinated by NOW GmbH and supported by the project management agency VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH.

What is eREACT™ and G2L™
eREACT™ is a novel technology for production of low-carbon hydrogen and fuels. The heart of the technology is an innovative electrified reactor design, which can convert a variety of feedstocks into low-carbon hydrogen or other chemicals and fuels.

The G2L™ e-fuels process is an end-to-end Single Point Licensing solution enabling the conversion of renewable feedstocks like captured CO2 and hydrogen to e-fuels. It combines and integrates technologies from Topsoe and Sasol to optimize hydrogen utilization, minimize carbon footprint, maximize yields and provide a reliable solution. The process is fully wrapped by Sasol and Topsoe as a Single Point License

About Sasol
Sasol is a global energy and chemicals company. We harness our knowledge and expertise to integrate sophisticated technologies and processes into world-scale operating facilities.

We strive to safely and sustainably source, produce and market a range of high-quality products globally, creating value for stakeholders.

With more than 70 years’ experience we leverage our proprietary technologies, know-how and expertise to produce amongst other sustainable fuels and chemicals from green hydrogen and sustainable carbon sources, via the Power-to-Liquids (PtL) process. By deploying sustainable FT solutions globally, we contribute to a thriving planet, society, enterprise and innovate for a better world.

Please visit www.sasol.com to learn more.

About Topsoe
Topsoe is a leading global provider of technology and solutions for the energy transition. We combat climate change by helping our customers and partners achieve their decarbonization and emission reduction goals.  

Based on decades of scientific research and innovation, we offer world-leading solutions for transforming renewable resources into fuels and chemicals for a sustainable world, and for efficient and low-carbon fuel production and clean air. 

We were founded in 1940 and are headquartered in Denmark, with over 2,800 employees serving customers all around the globe. To learn more, visit www.topsoe.com.   

For more information, please contact: 
Ulrik Frøhlke, Media Relations Manager
Phone: +45 27 77 99 68 
Mail: ulfr@topsoe.com