On behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Wuppertal Institute, in cooperation with the FEV Motorentechnik GmbH and the institute for internal combustion engines of the RWTH Aachen, is analysing the possibilities of the implementation of synthetic fuels. The project is being supported by Shell Global Solutions (Germany) GmbH and RWE Power AG.

These investigations are the first phase of an eventually longer-term project about the market introduction of synthetic fuels. The aim of the preliminary study is an integrated analysis of the different implications of such an alternative fuel, taking GTL (Gas to Liquids) as an example.

The following key questions will be assessed:

• What properties (as to GHG reduction) does GTL have along the whole process chain?
• How are the requirements and possibilities regarding the vehicle specifications for existing and optimised fleets?
• How considerable are the potentials for applications of synthetic fuels? In what fleets shall the fuel be implemented to achieve the maximum optimisation potential? Which players should be involved in the market introduction in NRW?
• What effects can be expected regarding the protection of the climate and the local environment and what are the costs for them?
• What are the implications for the energy economy and energy politics of an extensive implementation of GTL?
• To what extent can GTL be used to pave the way for other synthetic fuels, such as BTL (Biomass to Liquids)?