Promoting climate-neutral fuels and chemicals

Context

Kenya and other partner countries of German development cooperation are pursuing ambitious goals for transitioning to renewable energies. However, in some economic sectors it is not feasible to switch directly to electricity.

Power-to-X (PtX) can facilitate the energy transition in these sectors. The concept involves using renewable electricity to produce hydrogen as an energy carrier. Industry then uses the hydrogen directly or processes it into carbon-neutral raw materials or fuels for heating or combustion. In future, this will enable the aviation, shipping and chemical industries to manage without fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil.

In Kenya and many other partner countries, the conditions are favourable for producing electricity from renewable energy sources. So the logical next step is for them to develop sustainable hydrogen and PtX value chains locally and increasingly meet their needs without using fossil feedstocks and fuels.

Objective

Kenya and other partner countries integrate PtX into their climate strategies and contribute to the introduction of sustainable electricity-based materials and fuels on the international market.

Approach

As part of the International PtX Hub, a centre of expertise, collaboration and innovation in PtX, the project provides advice to decision-makers in partner countries. The aim is to develop new rules and strategies that will help to establish sustainable PtX in the aviation, shipping and chemical sectors in particular and promote local, regional and international markets.

In partnership with the Agora Energiewende and Verkehrswende think tanks, the project disseminates sustainability recommendations and publications that provide guidance on producing sustainable PtX products and are oriented towards country-specific demands.

The project provides training on PtX solutions for experts from the energy sector.

Last update: July 2023