Ineratec GmbH (Karlsruhe, Germany) inaugurated ERA ONE, a Power-to-Liquid plant for the production of e-Fuels and e-Chemicals that will usher in a new era of sustainable mobility. The plant in Frankfurt-Höchst is the largest of its kind in Europe and will produce up to 2,500 tons of carbon-neutral e-Fuels annually. This will make commercial-scale volumes of synthetic fuels available in Europe for the first time – and marks a decisive step towards achieving the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets. Ineratec started operating the plant a few weeks ago using the ShiftMax 100 RE catalyst provided by Clariant AG (Muttenz, Switzerland).
The facility will recycle approximately 8,000 tons of CO₂ annually and transform it into synthetic fuels and waxes. This production capacity represents one of the largest Power-to-Liquids operations globally, positioning both companies at the forefront of sustainable fuel technology innovation.
“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. Climate-neutral e-Fuels are not just technologically possible. ERA ONE shows that they are also ready for the market,” explained Tim Böltken, co-founder and CEO of Ineratec, at the grand opening ceremony, which was attended by high-ranking guests from politics, industry and science. “We are replacing fossil molecules with green molecules – and thereby making a decisive contribution to a climate-friendly future.”
Flagship project for the scaling of production technology
Kaweh Mansoori, 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. 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.”
Europe’s largest e-Fuel production plant goes into operation in Frankfurt (Source: Ineratec)
The modular design of Ineratec’s plants makes it possible to quickly and efficiently expand production capacity. By 2030, the company 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.
Synthetic fuels from CO2 and hydrogen
ERA ONE uses CO₂ from biogenic sources and green hydrogen to produce synthetic crude oil, which is then processed into sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF), e-Diesel 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 e-Fuels 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 technology also contributes to the sustainable transformation of the chemical industry.
Georg Anfang, Vice President at Clariant, said, “Our collaboration with Ineratec demonstrates how Clariant’s catalyst technologies are helping to make sustainable fuels a commercial reality. 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.”
ERA ONE is being made possible by, among other things, a €70 million financing package consisting of €40 million in venture debt from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a €30 million grant from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst. The support of these two major investors underscores the project’s strategic importance for the decarbonisation of sectors that are hard to electrify. 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.