Keeping Carbon Circular: PtX Lab Lausitz’s Vision for Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals

PtX Lab Lausitz is a competence center that aims to accelerate the fast and sustainable market ramp-up of Power-to X (PtX) products based on green hydrogen. Located in Cottbus, Brandenburg (Germany), it serves as a knowledge platform, initiator, and central point of contact for industry, policymakers, science, and the public. By using renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen via electrolysis, and then combining this hydrogen with captured CO₂, the synthesis of fuels and chemicals (PtX products) becomes sustainable. PtX Lab Lausitz advocates for a supportive policy framework to enable the fast and sustainable market ramp-up of PtX products in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, shipping, and the chemical industry.

PtX Lab Lausitz is one of many interesting exhibitors at the CO₂-based Fuels and Chemicals Conference 2025, THE unique event on CO₂ utilisation. The conference is scheduled for 29-30 April 2025 in Cologne, Germany and online and provides a comprehensive overview of innovative CCU technologies, materials and renewable carbon strategies. Attendees can engage with industry leaders, research experts and policy makers.

More information is available at https://co2-chemistry.eu. 

1. Innovation & Sustainability

How does PtX Lab Lausitz integrate green hydrogen production with CCU technologies to create sustainable Power-to-X (PtX) products for hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and maritime transport?

PtX Lab Lausitz is a competence center that aims to accelerate the fast and sustainable market ramp-up of Power-to X (PtX) products based on green hydrogen. Located in Cottbus, Brandenburg (Germany), we serve as a knowledge platform, initiator and central point of contact for industry, policymakers, science and the public. 

By using renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen via electrolysis, and then combining this hydrogen with captured CO₂, the synthesis of fuels and chemicals (PtX products) becomes sustainable. We advocate for a supportive policy framework to enable the fast and sustainable market ramp-up of PtX products in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, shipping, and the chemical industry.

2. Breakthrough Technology

What specific CCU technologies is PtX Lab Lausitz developing or promoting that utilize green hydrogen, and how do these address the challenges of carbon neutrality in industries like chemicals and transportation?

We are working to ensure that PtX become rapidly and sustainably available for aviation, shipping, and the chemical industry – sectors, where direct electrification is often impractical or ineffective. PtX solutions are urgently needed to enable and unlock the transition to climate neutrality in these areas. 

To support this, we are assisting the construction of a power-to-liquid (PtL) demonstration plant in Lausitz (Germany). This will be developed together with industrial partners and funded by the Coal Region Investment Act (InvKG) to meet the highest sustainability standards. 

We are aware, that the availability of affordable and sustainable CO₂ for PtX fuels and chemicals will be a major challenge for a fast ramp-up of production capacities. To overcome this barrier, we promote and engage in accelerating the development of innovative DAC-processes in collaboration with Fraunhofer IEG and other stakeholders.

3. Challenges & Opportunities

As PtX Lab Lausitz works towards promoting the market ramp-up of green hydrogen-based CCU technologies, what are the main technical and economic challenges you’ve identified, and what special opportunities do you see for the Lausitz region you are located in?

The production of PtX products requires large amounts of renewable energy and sustainable CO₂ (biogenic sources or DAC). Furthermore, an access to infrastructure, technology, and specialised know-how is needed. 

The Net Zero Valley Lausitz is an emerging hub for infrastructure and Net Zero technologies, providing the necessary foundation for PtX development. It offers easy access to needed infrastructure, technology, and know-how while also enabling faster permitting processes. 

Lusatia offers suitable conditions as a location for the plant. The high proportion of renewable energies and the geographical proximity to companies in the aviation industry already make Lusatia a pioneer of the energy transition, which is currently undergoing a transformation from a former coal-based to a post-fossil energy region. The construction of a pilot plant to produce PtL fuels on an industrial scale will equip the industrial region for the future, secure jobs, and support the structural change.

4. Collaboration & Industry Dynamics

PtX Lab Lausitz is well known for its interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral dialogue approach. How does PtX Lab Lausitz foster collaboration between green hydrogen producers, CCU technology developers, and end-users, especially in the logistics sector, to accelerate the adoption of sustainable PtX products?

PtX Lab Lausitz participates in various networks to help shape targeted and efficient policy frameworks, establish facilitating standards and certification systems for PtX, and strengthen a just transition in the Lausitz region. We are part of the Cluster Dekarbonisierung der Industrie (CDI), the Lausitz Science Network, the hydrogen network durchH2atmen Lausitz. Additionally, we support the NetZero Vallely Lausitz in Brandenburg.

By hosting expert discussions, conferences, and workshops, we promote cross-sectoral dialogue and transfer of expertise.

We shape the future of sustainable aviation policy, ensuring that E-SAF (sustainable aviation fuel produced with renewable energy) unfolds its potential. Our engagement includes membership in aireg (Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany e.V.), the Arbeitskreis klimaneutrale Luftfahrt (AKkL), and the Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Value Chain Industrial Alliance (RLCF). 

We contribute to the development of standards and certification systems. As a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) and the DIN working group on sustainability, we are involved in defining sustainability criteria for hydrogen and its derivatives through the on-going development of DIN 35809.

Source

nova-Institut, original text, 2025-04-22.

Supplier

Fraunhofer-Einrichtung für Energieinfrastrukturen und Geothermie IEG
PtX Lab Lausitz

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