Aviation: Germany Opens World's First Plant for Clean Jet Fuel

October 26, 2021

On the same day the International Air Transport Association (IATA) pledged to achieve net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050, the nonprofit Atmosfair unveiled a milestone project: the world’s first facility dedicated to producing carbon-neutral jet fuel.

Located in Emsland, northern Germany, the plant is expected to begin operations in early 2022, generating about eight barrels of synthetic kerosene per day — roughly one metric ton. Atmosfair, known for providing carbon offsets for flights, has not disclosed the project’s total cost or financing details.

Why Synthetic Kerosene Matters

Air travel remains one of the most carbon-intensive modes of transport, accounting for an estimated 2–3% of global CO₂ emissions. Commercial aircraft rely heavily on fossil-based kerosene, and reducing aviation’s footprint is considered one of the toughest decarbonization challenges.

Synthetic kerosene — also known as e-kerosene or power-to-liquid (PtL) — is a form of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Unlike traditional jet fuel, SAFs can be produced from renewable or recycled sources such as agricultural residues, waste products, or captured carbon. When blended with conventional kerosene, they can cut emissions by up to 80% over the fuel’s lifecycle.

The new Atmosfair plant aims to combine hydrogen (produced using renewable electricity from nearby wind turbines) with carbon dioxide captured from the air and biomass to create e-kerosene. The resulting fuel will be mixed with standard kerosene and delivered to Hamburg Airport, where airlines like Lufthansa will use it.

Current Limits and Future Targets

Today’s aircraft engines are capable of operating on a mix of up to 50% SAF, but global production capacity remains extremely limited — just 0.1% of total jet fuel consumption, according to IATA.

Governments are beginning to push quotas to accelerate adoption. Germany has set a target for e-kerosene to make up 0.5% of its aviation fuel demand by 2026 and 2% (around 200,000 tons) by 2030. The European Union is also considering mandatory SAF blending: 2% by 2025, rising to 5% by 2030, including a sub-quota specifically for e-kerosene.