E-fuels – irrespective of their disputed suitability for the car sector – will be essential for the decarbonization of the transport sector. Hence German transportation minister Volker Wissing is continuing with his campaign to ramp up e-fuels. On June 4, 2024, he underlined his approach by hosting the second International E-Fuels Dialogue in Berlin and used the event as a launchpad for his “Berlin declaration.” According to information from the German transportation ministry, it was an “agreement on technological openness, joint research and development and uniform standards.”
Fig.: The Berlin declaration is signed by German transportation minister Volker Wissing, the Lithuanian minister for transport and communication Marius Skuodis and the Japanese parliamentary vice minister for economy, trade and industry Taku Ishii (from right)
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Source: BMDV
Wissing explained: “E-fuels are, alongside battery electric propulsion and hydrogen, an important option for future climate-smart transportation – in the air, on the water and on the road. […] We want to encourage research and development as well as the construction of production plants. For this, we’d like to attract private-sector investment as well. We will further accelerate the expansion in renewables.”
Marius Skuodis, minister for transport and communication in Lithuania, said: “Thanks to its considerable renewables potential, Lithuania is in a position to become a producer of hydrogen and associated synthetic fuels.” Taku Ishii, parliamentary vice minister for economy, trade and industry in Japan, added: “The concept of the ‘triple breakthrough’ – realizing decarbonization, economic growth and energy security simultaneously – has a key role to play in achieving a carbon-neutral society. In this context, e-fuels are capable of contributing significantly to the triple breakthrough.”
The next edition of the E-Fuels Dialogue will be held in Tangier, Morocco, in summer 2025.
ILA in Berlin
E-fuels were also a key topic at the ILA Berlin Air Show which took place in the German capital from June 5 through 9, 2024. It was here that the former petroleum association and now industry association for fuels and energy en2x indicated that there will be “an EU blending mandate for sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) from next year.” Chief executive Christian Küchen explained: “Quotas alone are, however, not enough to stimulate the investment that is now required in SAF production. The EU’s E-SAF quota will rise to 5 percent in 2035. It’s not clear at the moment if the plants needed for this will be ready in time.”
At the air show, the association handed over a list of demands including 10 suggested actions to the German government’s representative for German aerospace Anna Christmann and the parliamentary state secretary at the German transportation ministry Oliver Luksic.