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.

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.

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.

Start Date: immediately or by arrangement       

Duration: 6 months    
Location: remote possible and/or on-site at KIT Campus West and/or Campus North
Supervisors: IMVT - Harald Bürgmayr (harald.buergmayr@kit.edu), IIP - Diana Temnov (diana.temnov@kit.edu) & Alexander Schneider (alexander.schneider@kit.edu)