Startups develop new methods to produce sustainable aviation fuel

Startups in Canada and the United Kingdom are developing new methods to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to address the limited supply of traditional feedstocks like waste cooking oil.

In Cape Breton, Canada, Aeon Blue is working to make synthetic fuel commercially viable by adapting saltwater electrolysis. The company aims to produce a suite of valuable products, including rocket fuel ingredients, while capturing carbon dioxide from the air. The project seeks to leverage local wind resources and industrial expertise to overcome economic barriers.

In Cambridge, UK, Neela Biotech has secured £2.1 million in pre-seed funding, led by Elbow Beach, to transition its technology from the lab to pilot-scale trials. Neela Biotech focuses on using food, agricultural, and forestry waste to create fuel, aiming to bypass the supply bottlenecks associated with the current HEFA production route. This development comes as the International Air Transport Association predicts SAF will meet only 0.8% of aviation fuel use by 2026.