Why Airlines Are Investing in eSAF: A Producer’s Perspective
- Catalyst
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
Airlines are not waiting for the eSAF revolution, they’re building it today.
As a company pioneering electrofuels-based Sustainable Aviation Fuel (eSAF), Twelve is witnessing a major shift in how airlines think about their future. No longer are they passive fuel consumers—they are becoming strategic investors, sustainability advocates, and critical enablers of the clean aviation economy.
The aviation sector faces an unavoidable challenge: decarbonization. Unlike ground transport, which can pivot to batteries or hydrogen, aviation relies on energy-dense liquid fuels. That’s where eSAF enters the picture—and why the world's largest airlines are moving quickly to invest.
Let’s explore why airlines are turning to companies like ours and how these partnerships are shaping the future of flight.
🌍 The Rise of eSAF: A Zero-Carbon Fuel for Long-Haul Aviation
eSAF is a form of synthetic jet fuel made from renewable electricity, captured CO2, and green hydrogen. Unlike conventional SAF made from bio-based feedstocks (e.g., used cooking oil or agricultural waste), eSAF offers:
Up to 90% carbon emissions reduction
Independence from land-based feedstocks
Scalability tied to clean electricity production
In short, it’s a clean, future-proof fuel for an industry that can’t afford half-measures.
💼 Why Airlines Are Investing in eSAF Producers
From our vantage point as a producer, we see six key reasons airlines are actively investing in eSAF projects:
Avoiding Feedstock Constraints
Bio-based SAF depends on limited agricultural byproducts or waste oils. eSAF uses CO₂ and water—resources that are far more scalable.
Energy Transition Alignment
eSAF sits at the intersection of aviation, hydrogen, and renewable electricity. Airlines are positioning themselves within this broader green value chain.
Influencing Innovation and Pricing
By investing early, airlines gain priority access, influence over technological direction, and potentially better long-term pricing through offtake agreements.
Anticipating Regulation
Regulations like the EU's ReFuelEU Aviation initiative will require a rising share of synthetic fuels. Early investments secure compliance and supply.
Meeting Net-Zero Commitments
Airlines have pledged to hit net-zero emissions by 2050. eSAF is one of the only realistic ways to decarbonize long-haul routes.
ESG and Customer Branding
eSAF gives airlines a powerful ESG story—one that appeals to eco-conscious flyers, investors, and corporate clients alike.
🔌 The Power Behind the Fuel: Green Hydrogen & Renewable Energy
One reason eSAF is so compelling is its reliance on clean energy inputs:
Green hydrogen produced from water via electrolysis
CO2 captured from the atmosphere or industrial emissions
Renewable electricity as the primary energy source
This “power-to-liquid” pathway creates a closed carbon loop, where emissions are captured and reused rather than emitted.
It’s not just cleaner—it’s future-proof. As green hydrogen costs fall and grid decarbonization accelerates, eSAF economics will only improve.
📜 Regulation Is Coming: ReFuelEU and the PtL Submandate
If you're wondering what’s pushing airlines to accelerate their investments in synthetic fuels, look no further than ReFuelEU Aviation—a landmark piece of EU legislation that sets binding mandates for the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) across Europe.
At the heart of ReFuelEU is a clear message: the future of aviation fuel must be renewable, scalable, and synthetic.
Key SAF Mandates (EU-Wide)
2% SAF blending by 2025
6% by 2030
20% by 2035
34% by 2040
50% by 2045
70% by 2050
But critically for us as eSAF producers, not all SAF is created equal in the eyes of policymakers.
⚡ The PtL Submandate: A Direct Boost for eSAF
The most important development for our industry is the Power-to-Liquid (PtL) submandate, which requires a minimum share of synthetic fuels—those made from renewable electricity and captured carbon.
PtL Mandate Timeline:
1.2% by 2030
5% by 2035
10% by 2040
20% by 2045
35% by 2050
This submandate is a clear policy endorsement of electrofuels and gives producers like us long-term certainty to build out commercial-scale projects.
🚀 What’s Next?
As demand for eSAF grows, we expect to see:
More joint ventures between airlines, energy providers, and fuel producers
Increased government support and financing
Deployment of commercial-scale facilities across Europe, North America, and Asia
Expansion into freight, military, and global supply chains
Airlines are not waiting for the eSAF revolution, they’re building it today. As producers, we welcome their vision, capital, and partnership. Together, we’re not just making fuel—we’re making aviation history.