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Why Fermentation CO2 is Special

Ethanol plants across the United States release forty eight megatons of nearly pure carbon dioxide every year. Because the gas emerges directly from fermentation it contains very few contaminants, making capture far easier than from power stations or cement kilns. Researchers at the University of Michigan see this stream not as waste but as a ready feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel that can cut lifecycle emissions by more than eighty percent.

Competing Pathways

The study compared three production approaches. The widely used Alcohol to Jet process modifies ethanol molecules and currently achieves up to twenty percent carbon intensity reduction. In contrast, two proposed routes begin with captured fermentation carbon. First, a gas fermentation sequence converts carbon dioxide into ethanol and then proceeds through Alcohol to Jet, achieving an eighty four percent reduction. Second, a Fischer Tropsch synthesis uses syngas to create longer hydrocarbon chains directly, reaching a potential ninety percent improvement. Both rely on renewable electricity and green hydrogen to maximise benefits.

Noteworthy Advantage

Perhaps the most overlooked insight from the research is logistical rather than chemical. Existing ethanol plants already employ technicians, storage tanks and feed handling systems that align closely with Sustainable Aviation Fuel production requirements. Repurposing those assets could shorten project timelines dramatically and avoid much of the capital cost associated with building entirely new refineries, enabling quicker scale up toward meaningful national supply levels.

Conclusion

Transforming an abundant fermentation by product into high performance jet fuel offers a practical, near term answer for aviation decarbonisation. By turning a previously undervalued stream into an economic asset, researchers and industry partners can move sustainable flight from concept to commercial reality sooner than many expect.

Source – Tech Xplore

Big Leap from Concept to Construction

When Mena Biofuels unveiled its Sustainable Aviation Fuel concept at Adipec twenty twenty four, the idea looked bold. Only twelve months later bulldozers are preparing land inside the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. Surveys are complete, an internationally recognised technology provider is chosen, and environmental approvals are under way. Phase one investment of two hundred million United States dollars will turn used cooking oil and other waste into one hundred twenty five million litres of certified fuel every year. That single phase covers about eighteen percent of the UAE Sustainable Aviation Fuel target for twenty thirty.

Partnerships Drive Scale

The company has signed an offtake memorandum with Emarat, ensuring immediate local demand and giving airlines a clear pathway to cleaner operations. A second agreement will be announced during the upcoming Dubai Air Show. With phase two the plant will double output to two hundred fifty million litres, equal to thirty six percent of national demand and enough for meaningful exports across the wider Gulf. Importantly, policy expertise from former European Biofuels Association chief Robert Wright is embedded in the team to guarantee global certification and market access.

Non Obvious Advantage

Locating the refinery next to Mena Terminals and deep water port infrastructure means the plant can receive waste feedstocks and ship finished fuel using existing pipelines and berths. This logistical shortcut lowers transport costs and therefore the overall price of sustainable fuel, an often overlooked barrier to widespread airline adoption.

Conclusion

Mena Biofuels rapid progress highlights how decisive collaboration, infrastructure leverage and clear policy direction can translate climate ambitions into steel in the ground. Fujairah is positioning itself as a major supplier of affordable Sustainable Aviation Fuel, advancing both the UAE Net Zero twenty fifty agenda and regional economic diversification.

Source – Khaleej Times

A Step Forward in Digital Reporting

The European Union’s push for sustainable aviation continues to progress, and the latest updates to the EASA Sustainability Portal mark an important milestone. The platform now provides a more intuitive and collaborative experience for ReFuelEU Aviation reporting, allowing users to manage data with greater accuracy and ease.

Improved data validation tools, clearer visual layouts, and separate tracks for refuelling and reporting simplify what were once complex procedures. The inclusion of verifier organizations also ensures that submitted information is reviewed and validated within the same digital environment. A refreshed knowledge base and more accessible menus make the entire reporting process faster and more transparent for all participants.

Strengthening Transparency and Readiness

The newly released ReFuelEU Aviation Annual Technical Report 2025 builds on these improvements, presenting valuable insights into the industry’s readiness. The data shows encouraging participation, with over two-thirds of operators and suppliers submitting their reports. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) use continues to grow, cutting lifecycle emissions by nearly 91% in 2024. While scaling synthetic fuel production remains a challenge, the 2030 SAF target is still within reach, showing real progress in aligning industry actions with climate goals.

Conclusion

The improved EASA Sustainability Portal and the 2025 Annual Technical Report represent a strong step toward a more transparent and efficient aviation sector. By combining digital innovation with regulatory precision, EASA has created a system that not only ensures compliance but also empowers stakeholders to take informed, data-driven action. This evolution demonstrates that sustainability in aviation is no longer a distant vision, but an achievable path built on collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Source

A Wave of Demand Heading South

The Sustainable Transport Investment Plan sets a target of twenty million tonnes of renewable fuels by 2035. Meeting that figure will require huge volumes of agricultural residues, waste oils and green hydrogen. European land and renewable electricity are limited, so offtakers are already scanning Africa, where solar irradiation is double the continental average and logistic routes to Mediterranean ports are short.

Opportunity Beyond Feedstock Supply

Historical commodity patterns show that value creation occurs where refining happens. If African governments encourage local upgrading plants rather than simple biomass exports, each tonne of feedstock could generate up to five times more revenue according to work by the African Development Bank. Early signs are positive: Morocco, Namibia and South Africa are mapping integrated hydrogen to e fuel corridors linked to special economic zones.

Building Competitive Advantages

· Large agricultural residue streams offer a low cost carbon source.

· Rapidly expanding renewable power projects can provide cheap electricity for electrolysis.

· Ports like Walvis Bay and Mombasa already handle bulk liquids, simplifying infrastructure upgrades.

An overlooked benefit lies in currency stability. African airlines purchase conventional jet fuel in dollars. Locally produced sustainable fuels priced in domestic currencies would reduce exposure to exchange swings, a financial relief that improves route viability as ticket prices remain under pressure.

Conditions for Success

1. Transparent land use safeguards protecting food security.

2. Long term offtake agreements backed by European importers and multilateral banks.

3. Skills development programs linking universities to pilot projects.

Conclusion

Europes ambitious clean transport agenda is not a distant headline for Africa but a catalyst demanding swift strategic choices. With the right policies, the continent can climb the value chain, secure thousands of skilled jobs and become an indispensable partner in global decarbonisation.

Source – Africa Sustainability Matters

Vision Anchored in Growth and Sustainability

India aviation market is expanding at double digit rates. To ensure climate compatibility, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is finalising a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy that will provide clear blending targets and investment signals. Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed the draft will arrive soon, setting India on a path toward five percent SAF blending by twenty thirty.

Why India Holds a Unique Advantage

· More than seven hundred fifty million tonnes of agricultural biomass each year.

· Established ethanol and bio refinery capacity that can pivot to aviation fuel.

· A young workforce ready to staff new plants across rural regions.

These factors mean India can supply its own airlines and become an export hub for neighbouring markets. A study by FICCI and KPMG projects that substituting part of current jet fuel with SAF could reduce the national crude import bill by up to seven billion United States dollars annually and create one million green jobs across the value chain.

Catalysing Investment and Innovation

The forthcoming policy is expected to:

1. Offer production-linked incentives for early commercial facilities.
2. Set up a tradable credit scheme rewarding airlines that exceed mandated blending.
3. Facilitate low-interest loans through collaboration with domestic banks and multilateral funds.

A non obvious insight concerns farmer income. Residue purchase agreements for feedstock, especially rice straw that currently causes air pollution when burned, could lift rural earnings by ten percent while simultaneously improving air quality around major cities.

Conclusion

By turning agricultural waste into high value jet fuel, India is blending economic opportunity with environmental stewardship. The forthcoming policy points toward a future where passengers fly on cleaner energy, farmers gain new income streams, and the nation improves energy security.

Source – ETTravelWorld