INERATEC and GIZ enter into cooperation to scale up e-fuel production in Chile

The German company INERATEC, a market leader in the field of Power-to-X, has entered into a public-private cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to scale up the production of e-fuels in Chile. The project is part of the International Hydrogen Ramp-Up (H2Uppp) program and is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK).

Karlsruhe - INERATEC and GIZ have agreed to work together to promote the production of e-fuels in Chile. The project aims to demonstrate the use of power-to-liquid (PtL) plants with modular synthesis units. The partnership is part of the BMWK-funded H2Uppp program, which supports international hydrogen development.

This collaboration demonstrates how the German government is supporting the decarbonization process and the promotion of sustainable fuels.

Javier Ortiz, Head of the H2Uppp program at GIZ

E-fuels are synthetic fuels that can directly replace fossil fuels in various transportation sectors such as ships, airplanes, trucks and cars. The production of these e-fuels from green hydrogen in Chile supports the country's national hydrogen strategy and the expansion of renewable energies. This reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels and mitigates risks arising from oil price fluctuations and supply disruptions. At the same time, it increases the competitiveness of Chilean industry.

Chile is one of the sweet spots

As part of the cooperation, the possibilities of e-fuel production plants in Chile are being evaluated. Potential customers and suppliers as well as different regions will be analyzed in order to efficiently design the plants according to local requirements. By working with industry, universities and local communities, the partners aim to establish a sustainable value chain for e-fuels in the country.

Philipp Engelkamp, CCO of INERATEC, emphasizes Chile's immense potential as a location for the production of e-fuels due to the availability of renewable electricity. INERATEC plans to build an e-fuel plant that recycles tons of CO2 every hour. The company's modular approach makes it possible to scale production capacity in parallel with the expansion of renewable energy and the availability of CO2 sources. Together with their local partner Ferrostaal Chile, they aim to forge close ties and drive projects to provide large volumes of e-fuels and shape a more sustainable future.

E-fuels are a promising option to make sectors such as mining, shipping, aviation and heavy-duty transportation independent of fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions. In December 2022, we reported on Startbase about the EUR 6 million funding for Ineratec.