dena Launches Global Alliance Power Fuels

The Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) – the German Energy Agency – and partners from industry have launched the Global Alliance Power Fuels. 

The aim of this international alliance is to open up global markets for synthetic fuels based on renewable energy sources. It is supported by a cross-sectoral network of companies and intends to establish a broad network of partners from the areas of research and science, politics and society. Among other things, it will analyze international markets for power fuels and the regulatory frameworks for their use in various sectors.

Andreas Kuhlmann, dena’s Chief Executive, commented: “Synthetic, renewable energy sources are the third pillar of a successful energy transition. After all, energy efficiency and the direct use of renewable electricity alone will not make it possible to cover future energy demand in a carbon-neutral way. dena’s Study Integrated Energy Transition and a series of other scientific studies highlight the role of power fuels as the missing link for ambitious global climate protection. dena has been working on these issues for several years. The debate is gaining increasing momentum in international climate policy discourse. Germany is a pioneer in the development of the corresponding technologies. Therefore, it is also obvious to launch such an international platform here. Now is the time to use and develop the existing know-how, initiate large-scale projects, and open up a sustainable future market.”

Power fuels: a wide range of possible uses for ambitious climate protection

For example, power fuels are needed in transport and in the chemical industry to significantly reduce greenhouse gases. In Germany alone, these energy sources will be able to cover 150 to 900 terawatt hours in 2050, especially in the areas of application that can only difficultly, if at all, stop releasing emissions by using renewable electricity directly, according to the results from dena’s Study Integrated Energy Transition released in June.

Power fuels are synthetic, gaseous or liquid fuels produced with the help of renewable energy sources. Familiar conversion methods include power to gas and power to liquid. The application possibilities are manifold: as fuel in the transport sector, to produce heat and electricity, or as a raw material in the chemical industry. Unlike electricity, power fuels can be stored and transported flexibly.

The inaugural meeting of the Global Alliance Power Fuels took place on September 19th, in Berlin. Participants included companies and associations from the following sectors: energy and renewable energy, automotive and aerospace, chemical and mineral oil, mechanical engineering and plant construction, insurance and finance, and included AUDI AG, German Energy Agency (dena), Deutscher Verband Flüssiggas (German Liquid Gas Association), ENERTRAG, German Aerospace Center (DLR), IWO Institut für Wärme und Oeltechnik (Institute of Heating and Oil Technology), Robert Bosch GmbH, Uniper Kraftwerke GmbH, UNITI Bundesverband mittelständischer Mineralölunternehmen (Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Oil Companies).