SWISS signs with methanol-to-SAF developer Metafuels in drive to access synthetic aviation fuels

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has entered into a collaboration with Zurich-based synthetic aviation fuels developer Metafuels to bring viable SAF solutions to market, with the possibility of the airline and parent Lufthansa Group committing in the future to long-term procurement contracts. Metafuels has developed technology to convert green methanol, whether biomethanol or e-methanol, into drop-in sustainable aviation fuel. With synthetic aviation fuel quotas due to be adopted in Switzerland and the European Union from 2030 onwards, SWISS said it was looking to secure early access to these fuels and support Switzerland’s role as a SAF research and innovation hub. SWISS and Lufthansa Group have also backed another Swiss SAF producer, Synhelion, which is developing technology to harness energy from the sun to produce renewable jet fuel.

Metafuels’ aerobrew process turns sustainable methanol – produced from renewable energy, water and carbon dioxide – into aviation fuel. The company is currently establishing a demonstration SAF production plant at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, Switzerland, while also developing its first commercial SAF production plant in Rotterdam.

“This agreement with SWISS and the Lufthansa Group is both a milestone for us and a clear affirmation of the role that synthetic SAF will play in the future of aviation,” said Saurabh Kapoor, CEO of Metafuels. “It’s particularly significant too that we have secured SWISS, Switzerland’s national airline, as our first partner from the aviation sector.

“We are united with SWISS in our shared objective of paving a viable and scalable way to providing lower-emission air travel. With both rising demand projected and tighter regulatory provisions ahead, synthetic fuels will only gain in importance and we’re convinced Switzerland has a key role to play in all these developments.”

The airline said the collaboration with Metafuels was part of a broader initiative by the Lufthansa Group to actively support the development and the bringing to market of SAF through research partnerships, pilot projects, industry alliances and customer-oriented SAF offers.

“Future availability of sustainable fuels at sufficient scale will only be possible if investments in technologies and partnerships are made today. That is exactly what we are doing with Metafuels,” said Jens Fehlinger, CEO of SWISS. “We do not want to wait on the sidelines, but actively contribute to making synthetic fuels market-ready and scalable. At the same time, this partnership helps secure long-term access to these solutions. The fact that we are taking this step together with a Swiss company sends a strong signal for us.

“As an airline, we are doing everything within our power to actively drive the transformation of aviation forward. At the same time, it is clear that achieving our goals will now require industrial-scale production. Sustainable fuels must become available much faster, at affordable prices and in significantly larger quantities in the future.”

Top photo (Swiss International Air Lines): SWISS Airbus A320

Bottom photo: Jens Fehlinger, CEO SWISS (left) and Saurabh Kapoor, CEO Metafuels (right)

Christopher Surgenor
Editor