#Sustainability20: SkyNRG secures funding to build Netherlands’ first SAF plant & more
Weekly Roundup - 13/02/26
Each Friday, we publish a round-up of the 20 most important stories on sustainable aviation. You can see previous editions of #Sustainability20 here.
Industry Updates
A recent study has revealed that while environmental concerns influence over half of UK airline passengers, more than two-thirds have never booked a flight based on green credentials, highlighting a significant trust gap.
LOT Polish Airlines has become the first carrier to integrate Sustainable Aviation Fuel emissions reductions into its data reported via the IATA CO2 Connect calculator, boosting transparency.
CLIMATE WATCH: Trump’s EPA repeals landmark climate finding in gift to ‘billionaire polluters’ - The Guardian
The Trump administration has revoked the “endangerment finding,” the scientific basis for regulating climate-heating pollution, a move critics have labelled a gift to polluters at the expense of public health.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
Aviramp has supplied a new solar-powered, step-free boarding ramp to Ireland West Airport, improving accessibility and operational efficiency for passengers with reduced mobility.
Aston University has partnered with Aurrigo to develop advanced AI systems for autonomous baggage vehicles, aiming to improve efficiency and sustainability in airport ground operations.
Nantes Atlantique Airport has commissioned €15 million in new electrical infrastructure, electrifying aircraft stands and deploying charging points to cut ground emissions by up to 50%.
The completion of the Rail Baltica terminal in Tallinn is set to transform the area around the airport into a “second city center” by 2030, creating a major transport hub to attract international business.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
SkyNRG has secured financing for the Netherlands’ first large-scale SAF production plant, with KLM positioned as the primary off-taker for the new facility.
Adelaide University has launched a new international research initiative with China to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel development, focusing on policy alignment and investment readiness.
Concrete Chemicals, a partnership between Zaffra and ENERTRAG, has secured €350 million in public funding to build Germany’s largest industrial eSAF production facility.
Praj Industries has successfully demonstrated its ethanol-to-jet process at its SAF demonstration plant, marking a significant milestone in the global transition to low-carbon aviation fuels.
Towngas, Sinopec (Hong Kong) and Sinopec Star have signed an MOU to form a strategic partnership spanning clean energy solutions, including hydrogen, green methanol and SAF.
Cemvita and Radix have made progress on front-end engineering for a project in Brazil to convert crude glycerin into bio-oil for SAF, potentially reducing costs by nearly 40%.
Cathay’s Corporate SAF Program achieved another record year of growth in 2025, with commitments more than doubling as corporate and cargo partners joined forces to decarbonise.
Gazprom Neft has undertaken rig testing for what it claims will be Russia’s first sustainable aviation fuel, derived from waste oils and animal fats.
FedEx expanded its use of blended sustainable aviation fuel to five US airports in 2025, securing millions of gallons to support its aviation sustainability strategy.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
HAMR Energy has successfully closed a $10 million Series A funding round with Airbus and Qantas to advance its pipeline of low carbon liquid fuel projects in Australia.
Horizon Aircraft has added two key suppliers for its Cavorite X7 prototype and is evaluating the potential of building a separate CTOL test asset to expedite development.
Munich startup ERC System has conducted a successful test flight of its 2.7-tonne eVTOL prototype, Romeo, designed for heavy-lift missions such as emergency patient transfers.
The University of Bath and Druck have entered a partnership to develop the world’s first flight-certified cryogenic hydrogen pressure sensor, helping pave the way for net-zero aviation.
A South African-developed membrane electrode assembly has been successfully validated inside a commercial aviation-grade fuel cell stack, marking a major milestone for the country’s hydrogen strategy.