HIF Global and Airbus to develop e-SAF together

E-fuel major HIF Global has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with airplane manufacturer Airbus to advance the global development of e-Fuels for aviation (“e-Sustainable Aviation Fuel” or “e-SAF”). HIF Global has signed the deal to achieve the e-fuels via the methanol to jet fuel (MTJ) pathway.

HIF held that the MoU for SAF development provides a framework for negotiation of definitive agreements in relation to four key workstreams: technical, project development, commercial and advocacy.

The collaboration was signed at the Farnborough Air Show in England, one of the most prestigious global aerospace, aviation and defense industry fairs.

Clara Bowman, Chief Operating Officer of HIF Global, said, “The International Energy Agency projects that aviation activity will double from 2022 levels by 20301. We are therefore in a global race to supply and scale up sustainable fuels to aviation, the hardest to abate of all the transportation sectors. Collaboration between HIF and Airbus will help accelerate the airline sector’s adoption of e-SAF and facilitate the industry’s transition to net zero.”

e-SAF is a type of Sustainable Aviation Fuel made by combining recycled CO₂ and green hydrogen produced with renewable electricity. e-SAF is a drop-in fuel which can be used in existing airplanes without any modifications to their engines. HIF Global is designing e-SAF production facilities based on methanol to jet fuel synthesis, also called the MtJ pathway.

In May 2023, HIF Global announced agreements with Johnson Matthey and Honeywell UOP to conduct preliminary engineering for HIF’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel facility in the United States.

HIF Global claims to be the world’s leading e-Fuels company, developing projects worldwide to convert renewable energy into near carbon neutral e-Fuels that can be utilized in existing engines.