INERATEC has selected Ramboll as the EPCM (engineering and project management contractor) of the upgrading unit at ERA ONE, INERATEC’s pioneer industrial Power-to-X plant in Frankfurt. After demonstrating superior performance and e-SAF yields of its proprietary Hydrocracking and Hydroisomerization process, this is the next major step towards delivering drop-in ready fuels to aviation. The project is backed by Breakthrough Energy Catalyst and the European Investment Bank.

Building on INERATEC’s successful upgrading results previously achieved at pilot scale, the next project phase with Ramboll marks a decisive step in strengthening INERATEC’s capability to produce drop-in e-SAF and other e-Fuels directly on site. By converting its Fischer-Tropsch crude, a synthetic hydrocarbon mix, into certified fuels, INERATEC is moving towards end-to-end technological ownership of the Power-to-Liquid value chain.

Tim Boeltken, CEO of INERATEC, says: 'With Ramboll on board and strong support from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst and the European Investment Bank, we are taking the next decisive step toward producing drop-in e-SAF at industrial scale. Integrating an innovative upgrading process with mild conditions directly into our production platform at ERA ONE will maximise the yield of ASTM compliant synthetic jet fuel without the requirement to process the fuel in a centralised refinery. This gives our customers and offtakers exactly what they need: a reliable supply of neat synthetic jet fuel.'

The collaboration brings together INERATEC’s pioneering modular Power-to-X approach with Ramboll’s engineering and project management expertise as well as their extensive experience in international e-SAF projects. The first project phase will further refine INERATEC’s proprietary upgrading concept, consisting of hydroisomerisisation, hydrocracking, and distillation steps and their Integration into the existing production lines at ERA ONE.

Anders Nimgaard Schultz, director for Power-to-X and Gas Infrastructure at Ramboll, adds: 'We are proud to support INERATEC in developing this industrial e-SAF plant, which is clearly an important project for Germany’s and Europe’s ambitions to decarbonize the aviation sector in a cost-efficient way. As EPCM, our role is to ensure that the project is developed on a robust and optimal technical foundation, and realized safely and cost effectively within the project frame.'

The partnership is backed by European Investment Bank and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, that strongly support the commercialization of high-impact climate technologies.

With ERA ONE serving as the blueprint for future plants, the integration of on-site upgrading represents a major step in expanding the availability of synthetic kerosene and strengthening Europe’s fuel security.