NorSAF and Nova Pangaea Technologies to develop waste biomass-to-SAF supply chain

NorSAF and Nova Pangaea Technologies are collaborating to develop a supply chain for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) derived from waste biomass. This initiative aims to address Europe's increasing demand for SAF while ensuring a resilient and locally sourced feedstock supply.

The European Union has set ambitious targets for SAF production, requiring aviation fuel suppliers to increase the SAF share at EU airports from 2% in 2025 to 6% in 2030, and further to 20% by 2035. Currently, Europe relies heavily on Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) technology, which necessitates importing large quantities of feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, primarily from China.

To mitigate the risks associated with overseas feedstock dependency, Europe must explore sustainable, locally available alternatives. Agricultural and forestry residues, abundant in countries like Latvia, present viable options. NorSAF plans to utilize advanced SAF plants to convert these local resources into high-performance aviation fuels.

Nova Pangaea Technologies' REFNOVA® technology plays a crucial role by converting waste biomass, including woody and agricultural residues, into ethanol and biochar. This process is carbon-negative, as biochar captures carbon permanently. The ethanol produced can be transformed into SAF through the alcohol-to-jet pathway, integral to NorSAF's SAF production plans.

Janis Kisiels, founder and Board Member of NorSAF, emphasized the importance of building industrial capacity for clean fuel production in Europe to reduce dependency on fossil-fuel imports. He highlighted the vulnerability of Europe's aviation sector due to reliance on overseas feedstocks and stressed the need for a resilient domestic supply chain.

Jonathan Wood, Chief Commercial Officer of Nova Pangaea, stated that the collaboration will provide carbon-negative ethanol for NorSAF's SAF project using local biomass waste. He noted that such partnerships are essential for scaling SAF production in Europe and globally, enhancing energy security, and fostering economic growth while reducing fossil-fuel emissions. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Europe has sufficient waste biomass to meet its ambitious SAF targets for 2050.