Details der Masterarbeit

1. Background & Motivation

• Evaluating sustainable value chains requires interdisciplinary research integrating economic, ecological, technical, legal, and social aspects. This comprehensive approach ensures that both system-wide and process-specific impacts are assessed, covering the entire lifecycle of technologies. Synthetic fuels (E-Fuels) are a key solution for defossilization of hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation, maritime, and heavy-duty transport, as they can be used in existing engines and infrastructure. Produced via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) using CO₂ and hydrogen, powered by renewable electricity, E-Fuels provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To ensure the long-term viability of these processes, a thorough techno-economic assessment (TEA) is needed, considering both technical performance and economic feasibility.

2. Tasks & Aims

• Development of a process model for a Power-to-Liquid plant and Simulation of process parameters
• Techno-economic analysis based on simulation results, including evaluation of production costs (CAPEX) under various operation conditions (OPEX), sensitivity analysis to identify critical factors affecting economic viability
• Estimation of potential revenue based on market prices for synthetic fuels
• Lice cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the CO₂ emissions and to compare with conventional fossil fuel production
• The work can be shortened, and previous work is available for orientation.

3. Qualifications

Current master's program in chemical, industrial, or process engineering, mechanical engineering, (technical) chemistry, materials science, or a related field.

• Strong interest in sustainable energy technologies and decarbonization strategies.
• Basic knowledge of process simulation, techno-economic analysis, and/or life-cycle assessment is a plus.
• Good communication skills in English and/or German