Post by Ann Mettler

⛽️ As another energy crisis is looming, Europe needs resilient fuels - produced at industrial scale and security speed   I was delighted to deliver the opening remarks at Tech Demo Day at INERATEC’s ERA ONE plant in Frankfurt, held in collaboration with Rheinmetall. Waking up to $120 barrel oil made it a fitting moment to talk about accelerating production of homegrown, resilient fuels.   In a nutshell, INERATEC produces synthetic fuels by combining captured CO₂ with green hydrogen generated from renewable electricity. The result is a drop-in liquid fuel - synthetic kerosene, diesel, or gasoline - that works in *existing* engines and infrastructure (= huge benefit), while reducing CO₂ emissions.   It's a game changing solution that was once only viewed as climate tech and Sustainable Aviation Fuel but is quickly becoming something more: a dual-use strategic capability. For an energy-poor region like Europe, synthetic fuels can ensure access to reliable energy when and where it matters most - for defence, emergency services, civil protection.   ‼️ Response in 2022 was not strategic Looking back, costly mistakes were made following the 2022 energy crisis when Europe turned to structurally more expensive LNG to replace weaponized natural gas. If Europe delivered moonshot initiatives like wind, solar and large-scale nuclear after the 1970s oil crisis, the period since 2022 will be remembered for accelerating the build-out of LNG terminals and deployment of China-made solar panels and batteries. European wind, however, almost collapsed in 2023, Swedish battery producer Northvolt in early 2025. Green hydrogen, hailed as the holy grail of decarbonization, never reached the potential that was promised. On balance, it’s a poor record that has not only resulted in permanently elevated energy prices but also a degree of deindustrialization that’s been hitherto unknown. ✅ 2026 offers another opportunity ... We know more now than we did in 2022. That resilience may not mean necessarily mean springing back to old form but rather leapfrogging towards to new solutions. That localisation of the energy system and decentralization provide more security and autonomy.   📈… but technology is not enough Scale and speed will make the difference. Just as defence procurement would never buy a single tank or fighter jet, energy systems also require scale. Scale builds capability, lowers costs, and creates strategic impact.   The path forward is clear: ➡ Move from pilot projects to industrial-scale synthetic fuel production ➡ Deploy hundreds of decentralized, modular plants across Europe to strengthen energy resilience ➡ Use the innovations ‘made in Europe’ for strategic interests and security purposes   💡 Because one reality remains unavoidable: Europe cannot rely on fossil energy it does not possess and does not control. Our energy security cannot be imported. It must - and as I witnessed yesterday - can be built right here in Europe 💪