Metafuels to build commercial e-SAF plant at Port of Rotterdam with Evos partnership

Swiss aviation tech firm Metafuels AG is set to develop a new synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) plant at the Port of Rotterdam. The project, named Turbe, marks a significant step in the commercial rollout of Metafuels’ proprietary aerobrew methanol-to-jet technology.

Evos' partnership enables scalable Sustainable Aviation Fuel production

Metafuels is partnering with Evos to integrate the plant into its existing Rotterdam terminal. Evos is a major European player in liquid energy and chemical storage, operating the continent’s largest ethanol storage facility and a key multimodal methanol hub.

Turbe will initially produce 12,000 litres of e-SAF per day, with a second phase targeting a tenfold increase to 120,000 litres daily. This expansion follows Metafuels’ 2024 announcement of its Denmark-based Pizol facility.

The company has raised $22 million since its founding, including a $5 million grant from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, positioning it among Europe’s best-funded SAF startups.

Metafuels’ aerobrew process converts bio- or e-methanol into jet fuel with high energy efficiency and up to 90% lower lifecycle emissions. As a drop-in fuel, it is compatible with current aircraft and infrastructure, offering a scalable solution for aviation decarbonisation.

“The aviation sector accounts for over 2% of global CO2 emissions,” the company noted, highlighting the importance of e-SAF in climate mitigation. Bio-methanol can be derived from biological waste, while e-methanol uses renewable electricity and captured carbon.

The Rotterdam project supports EU decarbonisation goals under initiatives such as RefuelEU Aviation and CORSIA. Europe is expected to lead in e-fuel adoption, with the EU’s synthetic SAF sub-mandate rising from 1.2% in 2030 to 35% by 2050.

Metafuels CEO Saurabh Kapoor said: “This first-of-a-kind commercial plant represents a major step forward… Europe has ambitious decarbonisation targets, but without scalable and affordable SAF production, aviation will struggle to keep up.”

Evos Rotterdam MD Christiaan Kop added: “We are poised to support the deployment of Metafuels’ sustainable aviation fuel project.”

Port of Rotterdam CEO Boudewijn Siemons concluded: “This development contributes to the climate goals for aviation and further strengthens Rotterdam's position as a leading hub for renewable fuels.”

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