The Essen-based specialty chemical company Evonik and Siemens intend to build an Evonik facility in Marl, Germany within the next two years. In the facility, two bacterial species will generate chemicals like butanol or hexanol . Both will be used as source materials for plastics or dietary supplements. Additionally, according to both firms, it is possible to produce ethanol using this method. The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with a sum of 2.8 million euros under the name Rheticus.

Rheticus intends to prove that artificial photosynthesis is possible. The electrolyzing technology used to turn carbon dioxide and water into hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) using electricity is from Siemens. The fermentation process that changes the gasses that contain CO into valuable substances using microorganisms is from Evonik. The first goal is to develop a technical test facility for the process. The next step is a production plant with an annual capacity of around 20,000 tons.