Decarbonizing aviation remains one of the most pressing challenges in the energy transition. With few viable alternatives for long-haul flights, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is widely regarded as a critical solution to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The European Commission funded TAKE-OFF project provides new insights into how synthetic SAF can be efficiently produced from captured CO₂ and renewable hydrogen, advancing the development of scalable, low-carbon fuel technologies.
Demonstrating the Full Power-to-SAF Value Chain
Launched in 2021, TAKE-OFF brought together leading industrial and research partners across Europe to demonstrate and evaluate the entire Power-to-Liquid (PtL) SAF production chain from CO₂ capture to final fuel synthesis.
The project integrated:
- CO₂ sources: industrial flue gas and direct air capture (DAC)
- Hydrogen production: water electrolysis using renewable electricity
- Catalytic conversion and upgrading into jet-fuel-range hydrocarbons
This end-to-end approach allowed the consortium to assess not only technical feasibility, but also economic and environmental performance.
Flowrence® Technology Enabling Rapid Catalyst Screening
Within this research, the Flowrence® 16-reactor system played a key role in accelerating experimentation. By enabling parallel testing of multiple catalysts, the platform allowed researchers to efficiently evaluate reaction pathways and optimize performance critical for advancing SAF technologies toward commercialization.
Two Key Pathways to Synthetic Aviation Fuel
The TAKE-OFF project explored two complementary routes for converting CO₂ and hydrogen into SAF:
1. Direct Conversion Route
CO₂ and H₂ are directly converted into light olefins (such as ethylene and propylene), which serve as building blocks for aviation fuel.
2. Indirect Conversion Route
An alternative approach involves intermediate products:
- Methanol
- Dimethyl ether (DME)
These intermediates are then upgraded through catalytic processes including:
- Oligomerization
- Isomerization
- Aromatization
Both routes ultimately produce hydrocarbons in the jet fuel range, tailored to meet aviation specifications.
From CO₂ and H₂ to Sustainable Aviation Fuel – TAKE-OFF (GHGT‑17 Conference Paper)
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