A green landscape with an airplane and chemical icons symbolizing Net Zero and SAF

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) – Driving the future of clean air travel

Low-carbon aviation is no longer a vision — it’s becoming reality. With advanced SAF technologies and renewable jet fuel solutions, we enable the transition to cleaner skies and a more sustainable future for air travel.

Learn how we support SAF innovation through high throughput catalyst testing and process optimization — helping our partners develop next-generation fuels that reduce emissions and meet global climate goals. 

What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is an alternative jet fuel certified under ASTM D7566 standards, ensuring full compatibility with existing aircraft engines and infrastructure. By blending traditional kerosene with SAF, airlines can significantly lower their carbon footprint and contribute to global climate goals.

SAF is produced from renewable feedstocks such as biomass, waste oils, or captured CO₂, making it a cornerstone of green aviation fuel strategies.

Chemical composition of SAF

SAF primarily consists of hydrocarbons similar to conventional jet fuel—paraffins, iso-paraffins, cyclo-paraffins, and aromatics—but derived from sustainable sources. Depending on the production pathway (e.g., HEFA, Fischer-Tropsch, Alcohol-to-Jet), SAF includes:

  • Normal and iso-paraffins for high energy density
  • Cyclo-paraffins and aromatics for material compatibility
  • Minimal sulfur and nitrogen compounds, reducing emissions

By replacing fossil-based kerosene with SAF, airlines can meet stringent performance and safety standards while advancing toward low-carbon aviation.

SAF production pathways – overview

There are currently eight ASTM-approved standalone processes for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from renewable feedstocks such as biomass, waste oils, or CO₂ combined with green hydrogen. These fuels are certified as drop-in solutions, allowing blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel.

One additional route, Methanol-to-Jet (MTJ), is in fast-track approval. In addition, three co-processing options enable lower blend volumes in crude oil refineries.

Today, HEFA-SPK is the only fully commercialized pathway, while others like FT-SPK and ATJ-SPK are at pilot scale. Continuous catalyst development and process optimization remain critical for cost-effective scale-up.

Quick facts: SAF production pathways

  • ASTM-approved SAF pathways: 8 standalone + 3 co-processing options
  • Blend limit: Up to 50% for most standalone routes
  • Fully commercialized: HEFA-SPK Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids)
  • Pilot scale: FT-SPK, FT-SKA, ATJ-SPK
  • Under development: SIP, CHJ, HC-HEFA-SPK
  • Emerging: Methanol-to-Jet (MTJ) – fast-track ASTM approval
  • Co-processing: Vegetable oils & intermediates in crude oil refineries (≤10%)
  • Key challenge: Catalyst innovation for cost-effective scale-up
Map with 11 ASTM-approved SAF production pathways
11 ASTM-approved SAF production pathways

Stichwörter

How hte supports SAF process development

With over 25 years of experience, we have built a robust technology platform to accelerate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) innovation. Our expertise covers all catalytic steps required across ASTM-approved pathways for renewable jet fuel, helping the industry move toward low-carbon aviation and net zero air travel.

Each star in the process map highlights a step where hte provides proven solutions — from catalyst synthesis to scale-up, kinetic studies, and competitive catalyst benchmarking. Our workflows deliver reliable, high-quality data with closed mass balances, enabling cost-effective process development.

Publication

Accelerate SAF R&D with high-throughput catalyst testing

Our latest overview publication summarizes our current SAF activities, including key topics such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, oligomerization, and hydrotreating of vegetable oils. It highlights how our technology platform supports process development for Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

Explore our customer success stories and press releases in the Knowledge Hub below to see how hte is decarbonizing air travel through advanced catalyst testing and process optimization. For syngas-related topics, please visit our Carbon management focus page.

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