Ineratec has secured a €40 million ($43 million) venture debt loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a €30 million ($32 million) grant from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst to develop what is set to be “Europe’s largest” green hydrogen-based e-fuels plant.
Located in Frankfurt, Germany, the plant is expected to produce up to 2,500 tonnes of e-fuel annually. Construction commenced in 2023, with commissioning initially scheduled for 2024.
Ineratec’s production process combines hydrogen and CO2 sourced from biogenic materials to create synthetic crude oil, which can be refined into sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), marine fuels, and e-diesel.
Carbon for the process will be sourced from Infraserv Höchst’s nearby biogas plant, although details about the electrolyser supplier remain undisclosed.
Mario Fernandez, Head of Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, explained, “Ineratec is on a promising path towards demonstrating that e-fuels can be economically produced at scale with the support of catalytic funding. Decarbonizing aviation requires real-world projects to drive down costs and attract investment. Breakthrough Energy Catalyst is proud to partner with Ineratec to accelerate deployment and unlock the potential to make e-fuels a reality.”
Dr. Tim Boeltken, CEO of Ineratec, emphasized that the company’s primary focus is on scaling up and deploying the technology “where it is needed most.”
The initiative is also in line with European regulations, specifically the REFuelEU Aviation policy, which mandates airlines to incorporate at least 1.2% e-SAF into their fuel mix by 2030.