While current alternatives such as electrification and hydrogen remain years away from widespread adoption, especially for long-haul flights due to logistical and design hurdles, sustainable aviation fuel emerges as a viable drop-in replacement for conventional kerosene. Metafuels in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, Switzerland’s largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences, are developing aerobrew, a sustainable aviation fuel made using renewable electricity (e-SAF). This does not require the re-engineering or re-purchase of aircraft—nor a redesign of the underlying fuelling infrastructure which supports both commercial and cargo airlines, route planning, and the existing customer experience, all of which make it an attractive and versatile option.
Furthermore, aerobrew e-SAF can replace conventional kerosene regardless of the size and type of aircraft or whether it operates short- or long-haul. Unlike competitors, aerobrew technology aims to achieve the lowest cost of production through high efficiency and ultra-high yield of e-SAF. Similarly, the technology is expected to achieve high environmental performance—through an up to 90% reduction of life cycle emissions and not chipping away at food and feed supply chains.
The Zurich-based startup and PSI, have now secured CHF4.4 million grant from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy under the Pilot & Demonstration (P&D) programme. Eligible for this funding are companies with a high level of innovation and alignment with the objectives of the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050.
The funds will contribute to the implementation and operation of a pilot facility based on Metafuels’ e-SAF technology. Set to be the Switzerland’s first such plant, the facility will be installed at the PSI campus in Villigen AG and will focus on demonstrating groundbreaking sustainable aviation fuel technology for large-scale commercial deployment. Operation is planned for early 2025.
Thanks to our expertise in both basic research and engineering sciences, as well as our many years of experience in the development and operation of such large-scale systems, our collaboration with Metafuels will accelerate the implementation of this novel technology for the decarbonization of the aviation industry”, says Marco Ranocchiari, head of the ESI platform at PSI.
(Press release)