Dear collegues,
Today, Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze attends the opening of the world's first commercial production plant for climate-friendly kerosene. She delivers a speech on site in Werlte (in German). Please find a translation of the manuscript below. We also provide a quote from the Federal Environment Minister (in German).
Kind regards
BMU Press Office
+++ QUOTE +++
Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze: "If Germany is to achieve climate neutrality by 2045, air travel must also make its contribution. PtL fuels from renewable energies are the key climate-friendly alternative to fossil kerosene in aviation. With the right framework conditions, electricity-based liquid aviation fuels are now finding their way out of the laboratory and into the market. For Germany and its partner countries, this new technology offers great economic opportunities. Germany is a leader in plant construction, other countries have a lot of capacities for wind and sun power. If we can show that this technology works, it will also create new export opportunities for plant construction. However, PtL fuels only serve climate protection if green hydrogen is used. For green hydrogen, and thus also PtL fuels, we need much more electricity from renewable energies. Whoever says yes to green hydrogen must therefore also say yes to electricity from wind and sun power. That is why we need new impetus for the expansion of renewable energies in Germany very quickly."
SPEECH
Dr Brockhagen,
Professor Latif,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The era of burning coal, oil and natural gas is drawing to a close. The Climate Change Act clearly stipulates that Germany must become climate neutral by 2045. This goal will guide the direction of any future government.
However, at the same time, no one should have to sacrifice the dream of flying.
This is why we need alternatives to conventional kerosene harmful to the climate. And these alternatives exist as we can see here today. I am very pleased to officially open the world’s first plant for the production of climate-friendly e-kerosene. The project is proof that the technology is available and it works. As a result, hydrogen will no longer be a future energy source but will become a permanent component of today’s energy mix.
Climate neutrality means that mobility in its entirety must become climate neutral. And this has to happen along a clearly defined trajectory: The Climate Change Act I introduced requires all sectors of the economy, including the aviation sector, to make a contribution to reducing greenhouse gases for the first time ever.
Electricity-based fuels are the central component as we move towards climate neutrality since conventional, turbine-powered aircraft are likely to be around for a long time to come. Aircraft are not purchased “spur of the moment”, and they are typically used for several decades. 30 years is not uncommon. At the same time, the use of sustainable biomass is already nearing its limits. To achieve noticeably lower CO2 emissions, we need truly sustainable, renewable fuels.
Two things are important to me here:
First, the climate will only benefit if green hydrogen – i.e. hydrogen produced with renewables – is used in the process. To this end, renewable energy needs to be expanded at a much faster pace than before.
And second, this plant is a good start. Now it’s about scaling up by building more and bigger plants. I consider the market ramp-up of PtX fuels to be one of the main priorities of environmental policy. This will also give rise to considerable economic opportunities for Germany as a business location and for our partner countries.
To ensure our success, I am relying on a combination of measures.
At the beginning of this year, I presented a proposal to make the use of electricity-based kerosene legally binding in Germany – incidentally, the first country in the whole of Europe to do so. The Bundesrat also recently gave the green light.
From 2026 onwards, in other words, in just under five years’ time, at least 0.5 per cent of aviation fuel in Germany must be made from PtL kerosene. This is around 50 thousand tonnes – several times more than this plant produces in a year. In 2030, this quota will already be two percent, or four times as high. This means that more and larger plants will soon be needed in addition to this one.
For operators, this will be worthwhile because the new law stipulates guaranteed sales for new fuels. And if PtL plants are also built in the future in countries where electricity from the sun and wind is particularly cheap, this will create export opportunities for German technology and plant construction.
The quota is a powerful instrument, but I don’t want to stop here. Other measures are in the works. To give you three examples:
First: In July, the European Commission presented its proposals for the implementation of the European Green Deal. This Fit for 55 package also contains specific measures for aviation in the member states. PtL fuels will play an important role here. The European Commission has also proposed the introduction of a quota for electricity-based kerosene in aviation fuel. I very much welcome this proposal.
Second: New technologies initially need financial support to get off the ground. This is why the Environment Ministry will support the production of PtL fuels for aviation and maritime transport. The funding guidelines are currently being developed. This will improve climate change mitigation and create jobs in future technologies.
Third: Developing expertise and networking are essential, which is why I established the PtX Lab in Cottbus at the end of August. It is a place where scientists and entrepreneurs work together on the development of power-to-X technologies to create a broad knowledge base.
The internationally operating PtX Hub in Berlin is working to drive the introduction of PtL fuels on a global scale. It not only directly supports the German economy, but also creates international opportunities for economic development and the transformation of energy systems.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The German government is setting the framework and creating the incentives, now it’s the private sector’s turn. Only together can we accomplish the major undertaking of a climate-neutral Germany.
How this can be done is shown by the e-kerosene plant. When cutting-edge technology, entrepreneurial spirit and the necessary perseverance converge, climate-neutral mobility becomes possible, even climate-neutral aviation. Anyone who wants to continue to contribute to these efforts in the future can count on the support of the German government.
So to the operators of this plant, I would like to say: your spirit gives me confidence on the path to climate neutrality. I wish you every success and hope that many will follow your example!
END OF THE SPEECH
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