Finnair, Finland's flag-carrier airline, is part of a project that aims to make new sustainable biofuel for aviation.
The project is a pre‑commercial 'pilot', meaning it's a test project, and the new fuel won't be used in passenger flights (yet). The operations are expected to start this autumn.
It sees Finnair and Finnish airport operator Finavia, Swedish engineer ABB, and Finland's state-backed power company Fortum, all team up with clean-fuel technology firm Liquid Sun.
From a site in Espoo, a 'tech hub' close to Helsinki, the partners plan to validate technology and build a scalable system to supply the sustainable aviation fuel (referred to as eSAF).
The technology is designed to reuse 'captured' carbon dioxide and renewable electricity - in a process called low‑temperature electrolysis (LTE) - to create the fuel.
It comes as the European Union has brought in an aviation fuel 'blending' mandate, intended to ramp up renewable fuel use through to 2050.
“Aviation is one of the hardest‑to‑abate sectors, and its energy transition will require new kinds of innovation and collaboration across the value chain,” said Riku Aho, Finnair's head of energy transition.
"We want to help develop Finland’s potential in synthetic jet fuel production while also advancing aviation’s carbon neutrality goals," Aho added.
The EU fuel blending mandate applies to airports in Europe and calls for flights departing European airports to use some sustainable fuel, blended with traditional jet fuel. It came in this year, requiring 2% of fuel to be 'sustainable' (including recycled, biofuels, synthetic fuels, and hydrogen-based fuels).
It demands that higher percentages of sustainable fuels are used in the future, in steps, rising to 6% in 2030 and up to 70% by 2050.
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When will the Liquid Sun eSAF pilot in Finland begin?
The Liquid Sun eSAF pilot in Espoo is scheduled to start operations in autumn 2025.
Which partners are involved in the Liquid Sun eSAF project?
The project partners include Finnair, ABB, Fortum, Finavia, Liquid Sun, and research partner VTT.
What is the EU aviation fuel blending mandate timeline?
The EU mandate began in 2025 at 2% renewable fuel, rising to 6% by 2030 and 70% by 2050, with half from synthetic e-fuels by then.
