Aviation

Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Powering Low-Carbon Air Travel

With increasing regulatory pressure and climate targets reshaping the aviation sector, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) offers a near-term solution to reducing lifecycle emissions without compromising efficiency or global reach of air travel.  

Among the available SAF pathways, electro-based SAF (eSAF) such as eKerosene provides a compelling drop-in solution for long-haul aviation. Made from captured CO₂ and renewable hydrogen, this fossil-free eFuel can be blended with conventional jet fuel and is fully compatible with existing aircraft and airport infrastructure.

eSAF Production

Why use eMethanol as a Feedstock?

A sustainable fuel in its own right, eMethanol can also serve as a key feedstock for eSAF production via the Methanol-to-Jet (MtJ) process—an efficient and increasingly scalable pathway to electro-based sustainable aviation fuel, such as eKerosene. 

Unlike Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, which requires on-site syngas production and integrated infrastructure, MtJ allows for modular and decoupled production. Using eMethanol as a standardized, transportable input - rather than investing in vertically integrated systems for green hydrogen, carbon capture, and methanol synthesis - enables producers to: 

  • Focus on conversion, refining, and blending: Prioritize the final stages of eSAF production for efficiency and quality

  • Streamline operations: Reduce complexity and operational overhead

  • Accelerate time to market: Respond more quickly to growing demand for eSAF

  • Ensure flexibility: Adapt to changes in feedstock availability and market conditions

  • Minimize upstream volatility: Improve supply chain stability by decoupling sourcing from production

Why eKerosene?

A Drop-In Solution for Real Impact

eKerosene has an energy density comparable to conventional Jet A-1, enabling similar aircraft range and payload capacity without modifications to aircraft or airport infrastructure.

Thanks to its lower aromatic content, eKerosene produces less soot and particulate matter, supporting cleaner engine operation and reducing non-CO₂ climate impacts such as contrail formation. While a small share of aromatics is still blended in to meet today’s fuel standards, emissions are significantly lower than those of fossil kerosene.

This combination of performance, compatibility, and emissions reduction makes eKerosene a frontrunner in the transition to sustainable aviation at scale.

eMethanol: Key Benefits

  • Scalable renewable feedstock for consistent, large-scale eSAF output 

  • Supports compliance with ReFuelEU Aviation and RED III, aligning with regulatory mandates 

  • Reduces lifecycle CO₂ emissions, contributing to greener aviation and net-zero targets 

  • Lowers CAPEX/OPEX risks through modular supply models and streamlined deployment 

Secure Your eMethanol Supply

Liquid Wind is committed to supporting the growing demand for sustainable fuels.

With a strong pipeline of eFuel projects under development in the Nordics, each with a planned production capacity of 100 ktpa, we provide a reliable path to large-scale supply.

Get in touch to discuss your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a renewable fuel alternative to conventional jet fuel, designed to reduce the aviation sector's carbon footprint by utilizing sustainable feedstocks and advanced production technologies.

    There are currently seven approved pathways for producing SAF, with an eighth — eSAF — emerging as a key long-term solution:

    1. HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids)
      Produced from waste oils and fats. Commercially established, easy to scale, and can be blended up to 50% with conventional jet fuel.

    2. Fischer-Tropsch (FT-SPK)
      Converts solid biomass or waste into syngas, which is then converted into fuel. Technically proven but capital-intensive and best suited for large-scale infrastructure.

    3. Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ)
      Converts ethanol or isobutanol (from sugars or waste) into jet fuel. Suitable for regions with abundant agricultural feedstocks. Approved for blending up to 50%.

    4. CHJ (Catalytic Hydrothermolysis Jet)
      Processes lipids through hydrothermal upgrading. Certified and under active development.

    5. HFS-SIP (Fermented Sugars to Iso-Paraffins)
      Uses engineered yeast to convert sugars into jet fuel. Approved but limited to 10% blending due to fuel composition.

    6. FT-SPK/A
      A Fischer-Tropsch variant that includes aromatics to better match jet fuel standards. Recently certified.

    7. HC-HEFA
      Derived from algae and other novel lipid sources.

    8. eSAF
      Emerging as a long-term solution, electrofuels such as eKerosene are produced using renewable electricity to generate hydrogen, which is then combined with captured CO₂ to create a sustainable, carbon-neutral fuel.

  • Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) refers to a range of bio-based and synthetic fuels that reduce carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. SAF can be produced through various pathways, such as HEFA, Fischer-Tropsch, or Alcohol-to-Jet.

    eSAF (electrofuels) is a subset of SAF produced using renewable electricity, typically by combining captured CO₂ with renewable hydrogen to create synthetic fuels like eKerosene. eSAF is considered a long-term, scalable solution for the aviation sector, offering an additional route to decarbonization that relies on renewable energy and carbon capture technologies.

  • eKerosene is considered sustainable because it is produced using renewable hydrogen and captured CO₂, making it a carbon-neutral fuel. The production of eKerosene significantly reduces lifecycle emissions compared to conventional jet fuel, which helps meet global net-zero targets. As a drop-in fuel, eKerosene can be blended with existing jet fuel, allowing the aviation sector to reduce its carbon footprint while continuing normal operations without the need for major infrastructure changes. Furthermore, eKerosene supports the transition to sustainable aviation by offering a renewable alternative that can scale with the growing demand for low-emission fuels.

  • The Methanol-to-Jet (MtJ) process is a two-step method used to produce eKerosene. In the first step, eMethanol is converted into long-chain olefinic hydrocarbons through the Methanol-to-Olefins (MtO) process. Next, in the Olefins-to-Jet (OtJ) process, these olefins undergo hydroprocessing to produce jet fuel isomers, yielding a jet fuel fraction (approximately 80% by weight), as well as naphtha and offgas.

    What makes MtJ flexible is its modular and scalable nature, as it can be implemented in smaller, decentralized plants that use liquid eMethanol as a feedstock. This flexibility offers advantages in logistics and distribution, allowing for easier integration into existing infrastructure compared to more centralized methods like Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

  • The Methanol-to-Jet (MtJ) process can use both fossil methanol and eMethanol as feedstocks. However, eMethanol is typically preferred in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production because it is renewable and fossil-free. eMethanol is produced from captured CO₂ and renewable hydrogen, which makes it a key component in producing eKerosene with a much lower carbon footprint compared to conventional methanol derived from fossil fuels. Using eMethanol ensures that the resulting eKerosene is carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative, contributing to more sustainable aviation practices.

  • Fischer-Tropsch synthesis requires syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) as a feedstock, which must be produced through gasification of coal, natural gas, or biomass. This process typically requires large, centralized facilities, making it more complex and capital-intensive. In contrast, the Methanol-to-Jet (MtJ) process uses liquid methanol, which can be produced from renewable sources like CO₂ and green hydrogen. This enables the establishment of smaller, more flexible, and distributed production plants, reducing infrastructure costs and simplifying logistics.