Rheinmetall’s Giga PtX concept envisions a network of several hundred modular plants across Europe capable of producing between 5,000 and 7,000 tonnes of CO2-neutral fuels annually.

The facilities are expected to generate diesel, marine diesel, or kerosene, produced by combining green hydrogen with captured CO2.

Sunfire’s pressurised alkaline electrolysers will be the basis for hydrogen production for the facilities. Further ahead, its solid oxide electrolysis (SOEC) technology could further boost efficiency by utilising waste heat from the process.

Partner companies Greenlyte Carbon Technologies and Ineratec will contribute direct air capture and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis technologies, respectively, completing the e-fuel production chain.

Rheinmetall wants to strengthen Europe’s defence energy resilience by reducing reliance on global fossil fuel supply chains.

The German technology firm will act as the general contractor for the initiative, overseeing the design, construction, and operation of the facilities.

“We have exactly the partners we need,” Birgit Görtler, Vice President for Hydrogen Sales at Rheinmetall. “We are prepared and can start immediately. We are ready to go to strengthen fuel resilience in Germany and Europe in the long term.”

 The first sites could be realised rapidly once political and regulatory frameworks are in place.

Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall CEO, said war readiness “requires a resilient energy infrastructure.”

The CEO added, “Maintaining fossil fuel supply chains will be challenging for European countries in the event of a defence situation.

“With the Giga PtX facilities, Rheinmetall and its partners are sending a strong signal of industrial transformation, climate protection and security resilience in Europe.”