"ASG aims to intensify its activities in the jet fuel sector and expects significant knowledge gains from the SAFari consortium. For this purpose, customized analytical technology for characterizing components and comprehensive laboratory equipment for determining important fuel parameters are available. Additionally, ASG supports project partners in developing distillation processes at pilot scale and provides synthetic feeds for the facilities. This work builds upon proven experience in both areas."
In the SAFari research project, partners will produce and test sustainable aviation fuel from methanol in a pilot plant, with the goal of obtaining full market approval from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Regarding the methanol pathway for SAF production, no fully integrated pilot or demonstration plant covering the entire process chain is currently in operation. The future SAFari pilot plant will be developed and operated by Fraunhofer ISE and will combine all functionalities required for the subsequent technical process to ensure the transfer of acquired know-how to industrial scale.
The conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen to methanol as a feedstock for the SAFari project is highly advantageous for several reasons: “Green methanol can be produced worldwide at locations with high availability of renewable energy and efficiently transported as a pure liquid substance to other locations using existing infrastructure. There it is converted into aviation fuels. Therefore, this methanol pathway offers a great opportunity to generate value creation in Germany as well,” explains Dr. Achim Schaadt, Head of the Department for Sustainable Synthetic Products at Fraunhofer ISE. “We also want to demonstrate that methanol-based SAF can achieve a higher blending quota.” Currently, various ASTM-approved SAFs allow a blending quota of up to 50%. The SAFari project aims to achieve a quota of up to 100%.
The consortium includes ASG Analytik-Service AG, BP Europa SE, Clariant AG, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE). Associated partners such as Südzucker AG and the German Aviation Association (BDL) are important stakeholders who provide necessary raw materials or are potential users. The SAFari project has been funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) since December 1, 2022, for a duration of six years.
