Moeve, Zaffra sign agreement to develop eSAF facilities in Spain

Moeve (formerly Cepsa) and Zaffra, a joint venture between Sasol and Topsoe, announced July 16 the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will see the Spanish energy firm and the Amsterdam-based electro sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) developer take a step forward to advance European aviation-fuel decarbonization.

The collaboration combines the credentials of Moeve, a leading Spanish supplier of jet fuel including SAF, with Zaffra’s technology and asset-development expertise.

Under the agreement, the partners will jointly assess the feasibility of developing eSAF facilities in Southern Spain, where Moeve is developing one of Europe’s most ambitious green-hydrogen projects, the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley.

The goal of the collaboration is to meet the ReFuelEU aviation targets, which call for at least 6 percent of all aviation fuel supplied at EU airports to be SAF by 2030, including 1.2 percent of synthetic fuels like eSAF.

These mandates are part of the broader Fit for 55 package, which aims to reduce net greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The regulation is designed to stimulate investment in SAF production and infrastructure, ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of sustainable aviation.

“Partnering with Zaffra marks a pivotal step in Moeve’s journey to accelerate the energy transition in aviation,” said Carlos Barrasa, Moeve’s executive vice president of commercial and clean energies. “By combining our renewable energy capabilities with Zaffra’s technological leadership, we are laying the groundwork for Spain’s first eSAF facilities. This initiative not only supports the EU’s climate goals but also reinforces Moeve’s commitment to delivering clean, scalable solutions for the future of flight.”

Zaffra CEO Jan Toshka added, “Zaffra is delighted to join forces with Moeve, aiming to develop Spain’s first eSAF plants to accelerate the decarbonization of the aviation industry. Our aligned vision and complementary strengths position us at the forefront of bringing eSAF to market swiftly, sustainably and at scale.”