OMV supports Europe’s unique research infrastructure for SAF at Technical University of Leoben

Vienna, Austria-based multinational energy company OMV announced March 23 that, together with the Technical University of Leoben, they are driving the decarbonization of air travel.

A one-of-a-kind research facility in Europe has been established at the Chair of Process Technology and Industrial Environmental Protection, where various process routes to manufacture sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are being researched and developed.

The new infrastructure was made possible thanks to financing from OMV and funding from Austria’s federal ministry of innovation, mobility and infrastructure.

The facility is housed in an entire building at the university and, according to OMV, stands out for its exceptional flexibility.

The experimental work is complemented by state-of-the-art process-simulation methods and the application of machine-learning models, which help to accelerate development cycles, reduce risks of scaling up and systematically enhance efficiency, costs and scalability in order to progress with the most promising production paths.

“Our close partnership with the Technical University of Leoben enables us to tread new paths in fundamental fuel research,” said Martijn van Koten, OMV’s executive vice president of fuels and chemicals. “Innovation and technology form the foundation of our transition to an integrated sustainable energy, fuels and chemicals company. Sustainable fuels are a key element of this—they are already facilitating lower-carbon mobility and decisively contributing to our progress toward achieving net zero by 2050.” 

OMV said it is a longstanding partner of the Technical University of Leoben and provided targeted technological expertise and innovation.

The planning and construction of the research facility were carried out in close collaboration.

The partnership, according to OMV, unites scientific excellence with industrial experience along the entire SAF value chain.

In this way, OMV said it is consistently driving the development of SAF and playing a critical role in the decarbonization of air travel as part of its transformation strategy.

“This facility is a significant milestone for sustainable, climate-neutral and affordable mobility, including air travel,” said Professor Markus Lehner, the head of the Chair of Process Technology and Industrial Environmental Protection. “It positions Austria and the research scene in Styria as a leading innovation hub in the field of civil aviation.” 

According to OMV, the process chains to manufacture SAF are not yet fully mature—efficiencies are limited, production quantities are low and costs are higher than for fossil-based kerosene.

And that’s exactly where the new research infrastructure at the Technical University of Leoben comes in, working with OMV to develop technologically and financially feasible solutions for industrial application.

Global aviation generates around 2 percent of global carbon emissions.

SAF is a key lever of the ReFuelEU aviation initiative, as it can be incorporated into existing infrastructure without any adaptations and can reduce carbon emissions by over 80 percent throughout the entire lifecycle.