HAMBURG, Germany & BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The international research project CARE-O-SENE (Catalyst Research for Sustainable Kerosene) was granted 30 million euros in funding by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Additionally, the industrial consortium partners contribute 10 million euros. The aim of the project is to develop novel, next-generation Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and thus to optimise the production of sustainable kerosene – or Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) – on an industrial scale.
Sustainable kerosene is not based on fossil-based raw materials like conventional kerosene but on green hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The technology contributes significantly to sustainably decarbonising sectors such as aviation, since fossil fuels are particularly difficult to replace in this area.
Research partners for the next generation of Fischer-Tropsch catalysts in CARE-O-SENE include Sasol Germany GmbH, Sasol Limited and the Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie (Helmholtz Centre for Materials and Energy, HZB). Others are the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), The University of Cape Town (UCT) and INERATEC GmbH.
Dr Dirk Schaer, Lead Technical Marketing Catalyst at Sasol says: “Our work is an important building block of the German National Hydrogen Strategy. We are delighted that the BMBF has recognised the enormous potential in the CARE-O-SENE research project on the novel Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and supports the work.”
“We are absolutely delighted about the start of CARE-O-SENE,” adds Dr Tobias Sontheimer, Head of Strategy - Energy and Information at HZB. “The fact that each partner can contribute dedicated expertise in catalysis research and work so closely with successful companies on technological implementation makes the project very special.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gave the go-ahead for the CARE-O-SENE project at a ceremony at Sasol’s headquarters in Johannesburg in May this year. Now that the positive funding decision has been taken, the research work can begin.
About Sasol:
Sasol Germany GmbH is a manufacturer of high-quality chemical products with production sites in Brunsbuettel and Marl and its head office in Hamburg. Around 1,700 employees and almost 60 trainees produce innovative, sustainable products and develop solutions for the processing industry. The company offers a wide range of products, including substances for the production of detergents and cleaning agents, paints and coatings, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. In addition, specialities such as high-purity and ultra-high-purity aluminas are used, for example, as catalyst carriers in catalytic converters for the automotive industry, industrial applications and high-performance abrasives.
Sasol Germany GmbH is part of the South African Sasol Group, a leading integrated chemical and energy company with almost 28,000 employees in 22 countries manufacturing and marketing first-class products. The Sasol Group includes the business divisions of Sasol Chemicals, Sasol Energy and Sasol ecoFT. The Sasol ecoFT division, newly founded in 2021, uses both Sasol's protected technology as well as expertise and experience to manufacture sustainable fuels and chemicals made of green hydrogen and sustainable carbon sources via the power-to-liquids process (PtL).
About HZB:
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) is researching solutions for a climate-neutral society. Researchers are developing and optimising efficient and cost-effective energy materials for photovoltaic cells, batteries and catalysts. The HZB uses a research infrastructure with the accelerator-based x-ray source BESSY II which enables unique insights into materials and permits operando analyses. With around 1,200 employees, HZB is one of the largest non-academic research centres in Berlin in the field of energy research and is member of the Helmholtz Association. More information: www.helmholtz-berlin.de
