The Future Fuels project combines research in several institutes of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on the production and use of synthetic fuels for space, energy, transportation, and aviation. This article gives an overview of the research questions considered and results achieved so far and also provides insight into the multidimensional and interdisciplinary project approach. Various methods and models were used which are embedded in the research context and based on established approaches. The prospects for large-scale fuel production using renewable electricity and solar radiation played a key role in the project. Empirical and model-based investigations of the technological and cost-related aspects were supplemented by modelling of the integration into a future electricity system. The composition, properties, and the related performance and emissions of synthetic fuels play an important role both for potential oxygenated drop-in fuels in road transport and for the design and certification of alternative aviation fuels. In addition, possible green synthetic fuels as an alternative to highly toxic hydrazine were investigated with different tools and experiments using combustion chambers. The results provide new answers to many research questions. The experiences with the interdisciplinary approach of Future Fuels are relevant for the further development of research topics and co-operations in this field.

Multiple options for sustainable alternatives to fossil kerosene have been assessed. The route using biomass gasification, hotgas cleaning, hydrogen addition (derived from water electrolysis using renewable power), Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and product upgrading towards ASTM D7566 certified SAF has technical, economic and environmental advantages to be discussed in detail. The technical assessment shows carbon resp. energy efficiency of fuel production at 61% resp. 55%. The economic assessment of brown-field installations in Finland predicts costs in the range of 1.00 €₂₀₁₉/l. For the evaluation of 200 MW_th biomass plus 160.2 MW_e grid power plant size, an electricity price and biomass price of 42 €₂₀₁₉/t and 51 €₂₀₁₉/MWh were assumed, respectively. The environmental assessment shows a global warming potential reduction of 91% (corresponds to 8.8 g_CO2-eq./MJ_Fuel,LHV) compared to fossil fuel using Finnish wind energy and biomass residues, far better than the required 65% GWP reduction of the European RED II regulation. Based on the techno-economic and environmental assessment of the preferred FT route, a European deployment potential between 10 and 60 Mt/a SAF seems achievable in early 2030 years. The authors propose to implement appropriate regulation with high urgency.

The combination of LCA and techno-economic analysis under local conditions uncovers the European SAF production potential via the PBtL route.

The chemical industry must become carbon neutral by 2050, meaning that process‐, energy‐, and product‐related CO₂ emissions from fossil sources are completely suppressed. This goal can only be reached by using renewable energy, secondary raw materials, or CO₂ as a carbon source. The latter can be done indirectly through the bioeconomy or directly by utilizing CO₂ from air or biogenic sources (integrated biorefinery). Until 2030, CO₂ waste from fossil‐based processes can be utilized to curb fossil CO₂ emissions and reach the turning point of global fossil CO₂ emissions. A technology mix consisting of recycling technologies, white biotechnology, and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies is needed to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. In this context, CHEMampere contributes to the goal of carbon neutrality with electricity‐based CCU technologies producing green chemicals from CO₂, N₂, O₂, and H₂O in a decentralized manner. This is an alternative to the e‐Refinery concept, which needs huge capacities of water electrolysis for a centralized CO₂ conversion with green hydrogen, whose demand is expected to rise dramatically due to the decarbonization of the energy sector, which would cause a conflict of use between chemistry and energy. Here, CHEMampere's core reactor technologies, that is, electrolyzers, plasma reactors, and ohmic resistance heating of catalysts, are described, and their technical maturity is evaluated for the CHEMampere platform chemicals NH₃, NO_x, O₃, H₂O₂, H₂, CO, and C_xH_yO_z products such as formic acid or methanol. Downstream processing of these chemicals is also addressed by CHEMampere, but it is not discussed here.