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New era of aviation: Germany launches groundbreaking SAF project!
The TU Freiberg runs the EwOPro project to develop sustainable aviation fuels by 2026. Goal: climate neutrality.
New era of aviation: Germany launches groundbreaking SAF project!
On May 15, 2025, the EwOPro project was launched, a continuation of the earlier KEROSyN100 project. Loud TU Bergakademie Freiberg The project will be funded until summer 2026 and aims to develop sustainable synthetic fuels for aviation. These so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are intended to partially and, in the future, completely replace fossil kerosene. The research focuses on the olefins-to-jetfuel process within the methanol-to-jetfuel route, which offers a promising solution for the aviation industry.
Martin Gräbner, Professor of Energy Process Engineering, describes this scaling step as a crucial milestone for the creation of closed carbon cycles. The results of these research efforts should make a significant contribution to industrial application and the achievement of climate neutrality. Prof. Sven Kureti highlights the advances in catalyst research, which are crucial for the implementation of these sustainable technologies.
The role of the aviation industry
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has set a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve this goal, SAF could contribute around 65% of the necessary emissions reductions for the aviation industry by 2050, as in IATA is presented. The liquid nature of these aviation fuels is particularly important for long-haul flights because they have a high energy density.
Current producers offer synthetic fuels based on bio-based fuels or using the Fischer-Tropsch process, but capacities are currently still limited. A significant increase in SAF production is expected in the 2030s, driven by global policy support, cost-effectiveness compared to fossil fuel, and the limited availability of credible offset measures. Governments play a central role in the deployment of SAF.
Technological advances and challenges
Efficient eSAF technologies based on the methanol route offer high product yields with low energy requirements. Jörg Engelmann, Managing Director of CAC ENGINEERING, emphasizes the advantages of METHAJET® technology, which makes it possible to produce methanol in energy-efficient locations and to transport it efficiently. CAC ENGINEERING is also planning the first commercial gasoline synthesis plant in Germany.
The project is supported by several partners, including the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik GmbH and Fraunhofer IKTS. This collaboration aims to promote the practical application and market introduction of sustainable fuels. The first kerosene samples are scheduled to be submitted to ASTM for certification as early as 2026, following successful pre-screening as part of the KEROSyN100 project in 2024.
The first industrial production facility, which will have an annual capacity of 10,000 tons, is scheduled to be operational by 2030, with construction taking approximately three years. Expectations are high that these developments will not only revolutionize the aviation industry, but also make a significant contribution to climate protection.