Swiss invests in sustainable synthetic fuels

SWISS is reinforcing its commitment to more sustainable aviation through a new collaboration with Metafuels, a Swiss company specialising in the development of technologies for the production of sustainable aviation fuels.

The aim of the partnership is to contribute to the development and industrial-scale deployment of SAF solutions, Sustainable Aviation Fuels, considered one of the main tools for reducing aviation emissions. For SWISS, the agreement is also a strategic step to ensure more stable access to synthetic fuels in the future, in view of the new usage quotas planned in Switzerland and the European Union from 2030.

Metafuels has developed a technology that allows sustainable methanol to be efficiently transformed into aviation fuel. The process, called aerobrew, uses methanol produced from renewable energy, water and carbon dioxide. The SAF obtained can be used in existing airport infrastructure and in fleets already in operation, an important aspect to make the transition of the sector more concrete and faster.

The project also enhances Switzerland's role as a centre of innovation. Metafuels is in fact building a demonstration plant for the production of SAF at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, while working in parallel with the development of the first commercial plant in Rotterdam.

For passengers, initiatives like this indicate the direction in which air transport is moving: more efficient flights, a progressive reduction in environmental impact and a greater use of alternative fuels compared to traditional ones. Synthetic SAFs, in particular, have significant potential because they can contribute to the decarbonisation of the sector without requiring an immediate transformation of aircraft or infrastructure.

The agreement also involves the Lufthansa Group, which together with SWISS is evaluating possible long-term supply contracts. The production of synthetic aviation fuels is still at an early stage and the available capacities are not considered sufficient to fully achieve the sector's decarbonisation targets. For this reason, investing today in the development and growth of SAF production becomes a decisive step.

The collaboration with Metafuels is part of the path already started by SWISS and the Lufthansa Group to reduce emissions from flight operations. Alongside investments in modern and efficient aircraft, the use of sustainable fuels is one of the main tools to accompany the transformation of aviation in the coming years.