H&R GmbH & Co. KGaA: P2X-Europe hits milestone for Power-to-Liquids project in Portugal

P2X-Europe, the joint venture between H&R and Mabanaft, is driving the path to climate neutrality in mobility and chemicals: A PtL project of the project developer project was qualified as a potential national interest project (Potencial Interesse Nacional) by the Portuguese government.

The PIN Award, is a qualification reserved for investments that significantly contribute to the country’s economy. The formal recognition is an official expression of confidence as it endorses overall project design as well as economic, financial, technical and environmental viability. The PIN Award also confirms the strategic alignment of the PtL project with government climate change policies, in particular Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan as well as the Portuguese Hydrogen Strategy.

P2X-Europe’s groundbreaking initiative is the first power-to-liquids project to receive this award in Portugal, which means it benefits from simplified administrative procedures and fast-track licensing & permitting through a consolidated approval process, giving it greater planning certainty. The PIN status thus translates into a significant time advantage as continuous Government engagement, synchronized coordination across ministries and active performance monitoring of licensing procedures will secure speedy project implementation.

Dr. Christoph Weber, co-CEO of P2X Europe, said, “It encompasses the production of green hydrogen from renewable electricity as well as the capture  and use of biogenic CO2 as a raw material for conversion into synthetic hydrocarbons.”

On an area of around 25,000 m² belonging to the Portuguese pulp and paper company Navigator, an industrial-scale plant is to be built that will initially produce up to 20,000 tons of synthetic hydrocarbons from 2025. AICEP Portugal Global, the Portuguese Business Development Agency (Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal) will monitor all administrative procedures and facilitate intergovernmental coordination as Process Manager. The e-fuels and waxes from renewable raw materials will be used primarily as e-jet fuel, but also in the basic chemical industry.

Detlev Wösten, Chief Sustainability Officer of the H&R Group and co-CEO of P2X-Europe, said, “The PIN award also confirms the planning quality in this innovative technology segment through a favourable choice of location with the cooperation partner Navigator as well as the added value of P2X Europe through market access via its shareholders in both the mobility and basic materials industries.”

“By granting the PIN Award, the Portuguese Government has demonstrated its enabling attitude and given testimony of the country’s leading role as a European climate front runner, recommending Portugal as preferred location for implementing innovative Power-to-Liquid projects,” comments Dr. Christoph Weber.

Volker Ebeling, Senior Vice President New Energy, Chemicals and Gas at Mabanaft, said, “Together with our own capacities and the expansion of our network, we provide the market with a broad and comprehensive range of CO2-reduced and even net zero future fuels and chemical products.”