Many industrial processes still depend on fossil fuels to generate the high temperatures needed for chemical reactions. According to a publivation by Topsoe, their new process “eREACT” replaces this fossil heat with renewable electricity, while also integrating CO₂ capture. This eliminates flue-gas emissions and significantly reduces the overall carbon footprint of hydrogen and e-fuel production.

A key advantage is flexibility. The system can use natural gas, biomethane, renewable hydrogen, and captured CO₂. This makes it suitable for diverse PtX pathways.

Applications Across Power-to-X

The technology supports multiple PtX products in one platform:

  • e-SAF (electrofuel for aviation): The electrified reverse water-gas shift (eRWGS) reaction is used by eREACT. It converts CO₂ and hydrogen into syngas. This syngas is then refined into jet fuel. This process reduces overall power consumption by 10–12% and lowers electrolyser investment needs.
  • e-methanol & biomethanol: By feeding the reactor with biomethane, producers can generate fully renewable methanol using existing methanol loop technologies.
  • Blue hydrogen: When combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS), eREACT reduces natural gas consumption significantly. The reduction is by 25–30% compared to conventional steam-methane reforming (SMR).

Industrial Demonstration Projects

Several large-scale projects show the momentum behind electrified PtX systems:

  • Saudi Arabia (Topsoe–Aramco JDA):A 3 MW demonstration unit aims to produce six tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen per day while cutting gas consumption by up to 40%.
  • Foulum, Denmark – FrontFuel SynFuels plant:A full PtX chain was demonstrated using biogas, biogenic CO₂, and hydrogen to produce synthetic crude, a key intermediate for e-SAF.
  • Leuna, Germany – DLR Power-to-Liquid Platform:Set to become the world’s largest e-fuel research facility, producing around 2,500 tonnes of e-fuels per year by 2027.

These projects validate the scalability and commercial potential of electrified reforming as a central PtX technology.

Why eREACT Can Matter for Power-to-X

The global energy system is undergoing a transition, not an instant switch. As energy demand grows, versatile and efficient PtX systems are essential. eREACT provides:

  • flexible production of multiple low-carbon fuels,
  • compatibility with existing industrial infrastructure,
  • lower renewable electricity demand,
  • reduced natural-gas dependency,
  • and a pathway to rapidly scale sustainable fuels.

Power-to-X is emerging as a key technology family for hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, shipping, chemicals, and heavy industry. Electrified reactor systems like eREACT offer a viable and efficient route to accelerate decarbonisation while leveraging existing assets.

Source: Topsoe eREACT article in Decarbonisation Technology magazine