Metafuels, Evos partner to accelerate eSAF production in Rotterdam

Image: Metafuels

Swiss aviation technology company Metafuels AG is to open a new synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) production plant in the Port of Rotterdam, marking another key milestone in the commercial deployment of its proprietary aerobrew methanol-to-jet technology.

Metafuels is collaborating with Evos to integrate the plant into its Rotterdam site.

Evos is a leading liquid-energy and chemicals-storage company in Europe committed to supporting innovative energy solutions.

This project builds on Metafuels’ expanding European footprint, following the 2024 announcement of Pizol—its planned production facility in Denmark.

The Rotterdam plant, named Turbe, will initially produce 12,000 liters (3,170 gallons) of eSAF per day, with plans for a second phase to increase production tenfold to 120,000 liters (31,700 gallons) per day.

Metafuels’ rapid growth is fueled by strong investment support.

In just over two years, the company has raised $22 million, including a $5 million grant from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, making it one of Europe’s best-funded SAF startups.

The Evos Rotterdam terminal is a dedicated multimodal methanol hub and the largest ethanol-storage provider in Europe.

It offers full connectivity across vessel, barge, truck and rail, with facilities to store renewable methanol that meets International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association specifications.

As a promising alternative to fossil fuels, renewable methanol plays a critical role in sectors where decarbonization is challenging, serving as a clean bunker fuel in marine transport and as an intermediate product in sustainable aviation fuel production, particularly within innovative eSAF pathways.

Metafuels’ aerobrew technology converts sustainably produced methanol into jet fuel with high-energetic efficiency and ultra-high carbon conversion.

The result is a drop-in fuel that reduces lifecycle emissions by up to 90 percent compared to conventional jet fuel without requiring aircraft reengineering or infrastructure changes.

“The justification for such technology is clear,” Metafuels stated. “The aviation sector accounts for over 2 percent of global CO2 emissions—some 800 million tons.

When accounting for additional greenhouse gases and complex climate cofactors resulting from the nature and altitude of emissions, the sector’s total contribution to global warming rises to approximately 3.5 percent.

Aerobrew SAF plants can process biomethanol or eMethanol interchangeably, allowing the production of biobased SAF or eSAF, or both simultaneously, in response to market signals, according to Metafuels.

Biomethanol can be produced, for example,  from biological waste, while eSAF uses renewable electricity and captured carbon to create synthetic fuels, offering a truly scalable and future-proof solution for aviation decarbonization.

The development of the Turbe plant is progressing steadily, according to Metafuels, with key milestones already achieved.

The next phase for Metafuels will be the launch of front-end engineering and design (FEED), followed by a final-investment decision (FID) in mid-2026.

The project aligns with major European sustainability initiatives, including RefuelEU aviation, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, and other legislation aimed at advancing the aviation industry’s transition to net-zero emissions.

Europe is expected to lead the adoption of synthetic or eFuels, according to Metafuels, driven by strong regulatory support.

Policymakers are relying on a substantial increase in eSAF capacity over the next decade, with the EU’s synthetic SAF submandate set to begin at 1.2 percent from 2030 rising to 35 percent from 2050.

“We have made excellent progress with our technology, and this first-of-a-kind commercial plant represents a major step forward in its commercial deployment,” said Metafuels CEO Saurabh Kapoor. “We are very excited about our cooperation with Evos as we work towards delivering the Turbe project. Europe has ambitious decarbonization targets, but without scalable and affordable SAF production, aviation will struggle to keep up.”

Christiaan Kop, the managing director at Evos Rotterdam, added, “Metafuels is addressing one of the aviation sector’s most urgent challenges. With our robust infrastructure, utilities and operational expertise, we are poised to support the deployment of Metafuels’ sustainable aviation fuel project. This cooperation demonstrates our commitment to supporting the implementation of scalable, efficient solutions that will drive the aviation industry’s transition to net-zero emissions.”

Boudewijn Siemons, CEO Port of Rotterdam, said, “We are delighted that Metafuels, as an innovative producer of eSAF, has chosen Rotterdam for the development of a new production facility. We welcome their collaboration with Evos, allowing Metafuels to use Evos’ existing methanol infrastructure. This development contributes to the climate goals for aviation and further strengthens Rotterdam’s position as a leading hub for renewable fuels.”