SEKISUI chemical and Velocys sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at advancing next-generation production technology for electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF), a synthetic fuel derived from CO2.

The collaboration brings together Sekisui Chemical’s proprietary CO2→CO chemical looping technology with Velocys’ Fischer-Tropsch (FT) microchannel reactor technology, creating a highly efficient pathway to manufacture synthetic aviation fuel from captured CO2 and renewable hydrogen. This breakthrough has the potential to significantly accelerate decarbonization across the aviation sector.

The aviation industry contributes an estimated 2.6per cent of global CO2 emissions, making it a priority sector for decarbonization. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), up to 65% of aviation’s CO2 reduction targets can be achieved through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). While conventional SAF is currently produced from waste oils and biomass, demand is projected to far exceed available feedstocks. The development of e-SAF, manufactured from CO2 and renewable hydrogen, is therefore seen as essential to meeting future aviation fuel needs.

By leveraging Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technology, this partnership will enable CO2 to be reused as a valuable resource, replacing fossil-derived raw materials and reducing emissions.

The partnership will focus on integrating the two core technologies into a unified, scalable e-SAF production process.

Together, these technologies are expected to deliver high CO conversion rates of 90–95per cent, setting a new benchmark for e-SAF manufacturing efficiency.

The partners will advance joint development with the aim of enabling commercial-scale production of CO2-derived e-SAF, contributing not only to aviation decarbonization but also to the realization of a carbon-neutral society by 2050.