Copyright: PtX Lab Lausitz / Susanne Baron
The head of the division for climate protection and transport at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK), Uwe Brendle, visited the PtX Lab Lausitz and spoke with the team about PtX and green hydrogen.
Since the opening of the ‘PtX Lab Lausitz - Think and Do Tank for Fuels and Basic Materials from Green Hydrogen’ in August 2021, the employees have been in close contact with the responsible department in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). Uwe Brendle, head of the department for climate protection and transport at the BMWK, and his team regularly find out about current projects and ideas of the Lusatian Think and Do Tank. On the occasion of the third anniversary of the PtX Lab Lausitz, the dialogue took place in person at the Cottbus premises on 27 August 2020.
The Lusatian Lab team, which now has 34 members, talked to Brendle about the active participation of the practical laboratory in structural development in Lusatia and current challenges. The competence centre is committed to progress in a future-oriented, climate-friendly technology and thus also to Lusatia itself.
The aim is, on the one hand, to support the region in participating in the targeted market ramp-up of PtX products and the resulting economic opportunities. On the other hand, the PtX Lab Lausitz supports transport in the air and on water, as well as the chemical industry, on their way to greenhouse gas neutrality. In these sectors in particular, direct electrification is not possible or only possible to a limited extent. Technological alternatives and political framework conditions are needed.
‘To achieve climate-neutral aviation, the sustainability requirements for aviation must be significantly increased.’
Climate-neutral flying by 2050?
‘To achieve climate-neutral aviation, the sustainability requirements for aviation must be significantly increased,’ says Dr Harry Lehmann, head of the PtX Lab Lausitz. Synthetic fuels made from green hydrogen are currently the most promising option for this. Nevertheless, climate-neutral European aviation cannot be achieved by 2050 on the basis of current EU measures alone. There is a lack of production capacity for synthetic fuels (so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuels, SAF). Furthermore, clever regulations and sensible subsidies are needed.
The PtX Lab Lausitz has addressed initial recommendations to politicians as part of the study ‘Book & Claim for Green Jet Fuel. Trading Certificates for Climate-Neutral Aviation’ and will discuss further necessary measures with industry experts at the next PtX Lab Talk #11 on the topic ‘Fit for Zero – Climate-neutral aviation by 2050’.
In 2018, air traffic was responsible for three per cent of global CO2 emissions: this roughly corresponds to the annual emissions of industrialised countries such as Germany or Japan. This sector must not be ignored if we are to achieve our climate protection goals.
Sustainable alternatives for fossil fuels and base materials are essential
Even though the current discussion between BMWK head of division Brendle and the PtX Lab Lausitz team was mainly about aviation, all those involved agreed that the work in all areas of the Lusatian Lab should be continued. Together, Lusatia should be promoted as a model for structural change and the PtX Lab Lausitz should be promoted as an important player in the decarbonisation of transport by water and air.
3 years PtX Lab Lausitz – our team today
The initial team of seven has grown to 34 members. From the outset, the PtX Lab Lausitz team has been interdisciplinary and diverse. The employees come from the fields of economics, various natural and engineering sciences, (international) law, and various humanities and social sciences.
The team is currently working in ten working groups. In addition to three sectoral groups on aviation, maritime transport and the chemical industry, there are also working groups focusing on resources, sustainability, policies and framework conditions, finance or PtL plants.
In dialogue with the experts of the PtX Lab Lausitz
The staff of the PtX Lab Lausitz regularly take part in events on climate change and the energy transition, on hydrogen and on PtX technologies. The events website provides an overview of when and where it is possible to exchange ideas with the team of the Think and Do Tank.
