Global air travel has steadily recovered post-pandemic and shows clear signs of accelerating growth. Annual passenger traffic is projected to reach 19.5 billion by 2042, more than double the levels recorded in 2024. Without decisive action, this surge in demand is expected to significantly increase aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) has emerged as a critical solution to mitigate the sector’s climate impact and commercial agreements are playing a central role in scaling SAF production and driving technological innovation. Examining these partnerships provides valuable insight into how aviation stakeholders are translating climate commitments into measurable action.
This article highlights the key agreements shaping the future of SAF manufacturing and demonstrates how forward-thinking organizations are meeting regulatory requirements while advancing aviation’s decarbonization goals.
Strategic Partnership between Liquid Sun, Finnair, Finavia, and others
Challenge
- Under the ReFuelEU Aviation mandate, renewable fuels must make up 2% of aviation fuel by 2025 and rise to 70% by 2050, with half from eSAF.
- Finland’s forest industry produces 20 million tons of biogenic CO₂ annually, alongside emissions from biogas plants, creating significant potential to convert these emissions into low-carbon fuels.
Solution
Finnish company Liquid Sun is launching a pilot project to produce eSAF from captured biogenic CO₂. The strategic partnership brings together airline Finnair, engineering company ABB, energy company Fortum, and airport management company Finavia to position Finland as a leading producer of renewable aviation fuels while advancing the aviation sector’s carbon-neutrality goals.
Outcome
The partnership aims to build a complete value chain for synthetic fuel production in Finland while meeting the EU aviation blending mandate taking effect in early 2025. The pilot electro-fuel unit in Espoo is expected to be fully operational by autumn 2025.
Letter of Intent between Town of Vegreville and Provectus Biofuels
Challenge
- The Town of Vegreville in Canada produces a significant surplus of wheat straw, an agricultural byproduct that is largely underutilized. Much of it is either mulched or ploughed back into the soil, offering diminishing returns and releasing avoidable emissions.
- North American airlines face increasing pressure to decarbonize and are seeking reliable sources of low-carbon alternatives to conventional jet fuel.
Solution
Recognizing this opportunity, Provectus Biofuels has signed a Letter of Intent with the Town of Vegreville to develop a biofuel facility. The plant will convert the region’s abundant wheat straw into Renewable Jet Fuel (RJF), creating a sustainable alternative to traditional practices while supporting the aviation sector’s transition to lower-carbon energy sources.
Outcome
The collaboration aims to transform agricultural residues into high-value, low-carbon fuels while delivering multiple benefits:
- An alternative source of income for farmers by converting excess wheat straw into a profitable feedstock
- Sustainable co-products such as biochar, which boosts soil health, improves water retention, and supports carbon sequestration
- Support Canada’s clean energy ambitions
Licensing Agreement between Syzygy Plasmonics and Velocys
Challenge:
Estancias del Lago (EDL), one of Uruguay’s largest dairy and agri-energy operators, generates significant volumes of dairy waste, biogenic methane, and CO₂. These emissions can be valorized to manufacture aviation fuel and reduce environmental impact.
Solution:
Syzygy Plasmonics has signed a licensing agreement with Velocys to become the technology partner for its NovaSAF 1 SAF project in Uruguay. The collaboration combines Velocys’ microFTL Fischer-Tropsch technology with Syzygy’s proprietary light-driven GHG e-Reforming™ process to convert dairy waste and biogas into drop-in jet fuel using renewable electricity.
Syzygy’s technology produces low-cost syngas from biogenic methane and CO₂ without relying on water-intensive steam reforming or expensive electrolyzers, simplifying the SAF production process.
Velocys’ microFTL technology complements this by maximizing fuel yields and enhancing reliability, critical for achieving cost-effective, scalable SAF production.
Outcome:
Once operational, the NovaSAF 1 facility will produce up to 500,000 gallons of SAF annually, achieving an estimated 80% reduction in carbon intensity compared to conventional Jet A fuel.
Supply Agreement between Amazon and Neste
Challenge:
Amazon has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and is actively working to decarbonize its Amazon Air cargo operations as part of this broader climate strategy.
Solution:
Finnish renewable fuels producer Neste has signed a supply agreement with Amazon to deliver 7,500 metric tons (approx. 2.5 million gallons) of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ through the end of 2025. This will support Amazon Air operations at San Francisco International Airport and Ontario International Airport in California.
The SAF will be blended with conventional jet fuel and supplied via existing airport infrastructure at San Francisco. SAF deliveries to Ontario will be managed using trucks powered by renewable diesel ensuring emissions remain low across the supply chain.
Outcome:
Produced from renewable waste and residue feedstocks, Neste’s SAF is expected to cut GHG emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle compared to fossil-based jet fuel.
This agreement also marks a milestone for Amazon. It is the first company to purchase and use SAF at Ontario International Airport while advancing its long-term sustainability commitments.
Strategic Partnership between Groupe Rémabec and Alder Renewables
Challenge:
Québec’s Côte-Nord region produces significant volumes of sawmill by-products and residual forest biomass that often remain underutilized. Finding sustainable ways to convert these resources into high-value products offers a pathway to reduce emissions and support Canada’s decarbonization goals.
Solution:
Alder Renewables and Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord have announced Project Avance, a strategic partnership to establish one of North America’s first biomass-to-SAF production facilities in Port-Cartier, Québec.
The project will deploy Alder Renewables’ proprietary Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) technology to convert bio-oil into a refinery-ready intermediate. This ARC will then be upgraded through hydrotreating into SAF and other low-carbon transportation fuels.
Outcome:
Project Avance is scheduled to begin production in 2027. Once operational, the facility is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. It will also support Canada’s Aviation Action Plan, which aims to produce 1 billion liters of SAF annually by 2030.
Scaling SAF Through Strategic Partnerships
The commercial agreements highlighted in this article demonstrate how collaboration is accelerating the scale-up of SAF worldwide. By leveraging advanced technologies, local resources, and strategic partnerships, these initiatives help reduce aviation emissions by up to 80 percent. It also helps in meeting rising regulatory and market demands.
For airlines, fuel producers, and infrastructure operators, expanding SAF production is a key driver of long-term competitiveness and climate commitments. As global passenger traffic grows, these partnerships will play a critical role in shaping a lower-emission future for aviation.
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