Published on November 20, 2019
BMU Conference “Power-to-X: Moving towards a sustainable PtX economy” on 19.11.2019 in Berlin
At the Power-to-X (PtX) conference of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze emphasized the importance of the technology for international decarbonisation and expressed her support for the further expansion of renewable energy. The conference, which the BMU hosted for the first time and which was supported by GIZ, focused on ecological aspects, the global dimension of PtX and the perspectives this new technology offers German companies on the world market.
What is PtX?
PtX (also known as e-fuels or electric/synthetic fuels) refers to processes in which renewable electricity is converted into gaseous/liquid (power-to-gas/liquids) fuels or feedstock of the chemical industry (e.g. hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol). With an adequate production, PtX products can be used almost climate-neutrally. Watch BMU’s Explanation Video on PtX (in German).
PtX Secretariat as part of a comprehensive action programme
The Federal Environment Minister Schulze and State Secretary Flasbarth (Press release by the BMU, in German only) emphasized the central importance of PtX technologies as a key building block for global climate protection and sustainability. Especially for sectors that cannot directly use electricity, such as air traffic, shipping or in the chemical industry and steel production PtX will be an important option. One should also not neglect the timely discussion of ecological and social guidelines for the production and use of PtX.
With this conference, the BMU set the starting point for a successive stakeholder dialogue within the framework of the PtX action programme. In addition to a national competence centre in Cottbus, the programme includes a PtX secretariat, which aims at involving international partners. This PtX secretariat is set up and implemented by the GIZ group Energy, Water, Transport (GloBe) on behalf of the BMU. The official launch at the international scale is planned for UN Climate Change Conference COP 25 in Madrid.
PtX topic of international cooperation
Vera Scholz, Head of the Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Department (GIZ), highlighted in her presentation on the global dimension of the topic that the interests of potential producing countries such as Morocco or South Africa must be taken into account and respected. This requires a change of perspective and a proactive approach to international cooperation for which the Paris Climate Protection Agreement and Agenda 2030 provide the framework.
