Metafuels launches methanol-to-jet SAF demo plant and partners with SWISS

Metafuels, a pioneer of methanol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel, opened its first demonstration plant at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, showcasing the Aerobrew e-SAF process that relies on renewable power and a methanol conversion pathway. The modest unit, capable of outputting 50 liters of jet fuel each day, is intended to validate claims that the technology can halve costs and raise yields by 80 % versus conventional Fischer-Tropsch routes.

Following a recent strategic agreement with SWISS International Airlines, Metafuels is moving toward commercial scale, having raised $24 million in Series A funding and obtained a €1.92 million grant from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency for a larger plant in Rotterdam. Engineering, procurement and construction for the Rotterdam project have been awarded to McDermott, while discussions are under way for a Danish facility. The partnership is presented as a step toward meeting the International Air Transport Association’s net-zero target for 2050, with Metafuels aiming to eventually produce up to 2,000 tons of e-SAF daily.