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What does Power-to-Liquid (PtL) actually mean?

How can we make environmentally friendly fuels using renewable energy? What does Power-to-Liquid have to do with this, and how does it help with sector coupling? Read on for an overview.
Power-to-Liquid (PtL) is a process that uses electricity to produce synthetic liquid fuels. The process is considered climate-friendly when the electricity used comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar power.

Synthetic fuels, also known as e-fuels or RFNBOs (Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin), are the products of the PtL technology. These fuels are produced using electricity, and their great potential for achieving climate neutrality lies in their ability to connect the energy sector with other sectors, such as transport and industry. This is known as sector coupling: Sector coupling (in German only).

The process starts with the production of renewable or low-carbon hydrogen, primarily made through electrolysis of water. By adding carbon from sustainable CO₂ sources (e.g. biogas plants), the hydrogen can then be used to produce liquid hydrocarbons, which can be easily integrated into existing petroleum infrastructure.

However, the PtL process requires a significant amount of energy to produce large quantities of fuel. Therefore, PtL products are mainly suitable for sectors where direct use of electricity or hydrogen is not feasible or practical. This applies particularly to specific applications in industry and the transport sector, especially air and sea transport.

^{Environmentally friendly aviation fuels without harmful kerosene}

The aviation industry, which is responsible for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, has the potential to become largely carbon-neutral using PtL technologies. These technologies can also help reduce the non-carbon effects of flying on the climate to some extent.

However, producing such environmentally friendly aviation fuels remains a major technical and economic challenge. To produce sustainable PtL fuels in the necessary quantities, large amounts of renewable electricity from solar and wind energy are required, as well as abundant renewable carbon sources.

A production facility for aviation fuel made from renewable energy is planned in the Lausitz region, where the conditions are ideal: a high share of renewable energy and geographical proximity to aviation companies in Brandenburg. The call for expressions of interest for establishing a power-to-liquid demonstration plant in the Lausitz region (in German only) was launched in mid-February 2025 and will run until 14 April 2025.

^{Flight powered by 100% synthetic fuel based on Power-to-Liquid}

At the 2024 International Air Show (ILA), a plane serving as a Testing platform for the German Aerospace Center (DLR) (in German only) flew for the first time using 100% synthetic fuel based on Power-to-Liquid technology. Further test flights are planned at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet, during which additional emission measurements will be carried out under realistic flight conditions.

The UpLift H2 Aviation network, funded by the LuFo Climate aviation research programme, offers a test platform and ground testing stations to all companies in the aviation industry in an open and transparent manner.