Lufthansa Group drives forward the market ramp-up and use of SAF as a core element of its sustainability strategy.
The Lufthansa Group and HCS Group have recently agreed to collaborate on the production and supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The partnership aims to utilize HCS Group’s Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) technology to produce SAF from biogenic residues sourced from agriculture and forestry. The SAF will be manufactured at the HCS Group production site in Speyer, which is conveniently located near Lufthansa Group’s Frankfurt hub. The initial production volume is targeted at 60,000 metric tons of SAF per year, making HCS Group the first large-scale producer of biogenic SAF in Germany.
The agreement aligns with Lufthansa Group’s commitment to sustainable aviation and its efforts to drive the market adoption of SAF as a crucial element of its sustainability strategy. The airline group has already established itself as one of the world’s top five SAF customers and has pledged to invest up to USD 250 million in SAF procurement over the coming years. Lufthansa Group is actively engaged in various global projects to enhance SAF availability and is continuously exploring additional options for long-term purchase agreements.
SAF, also known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel, is produced without fossil feedstocks and meets sustainability criteria. The current SAF is primarily sourced from biogenic residual materials like used cooking oil and is blended with conventional kerosene before transportation to airports. In its pure form, SAF derived from biogenic residues can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional kerosene. Lufthansa Group has been at the forefront of SAF research, with a focus on next-generation fuels based on waste materials, renewable electrical energy (Power-to-Liquid, PtL), and the direct use of sunlight for fuel synthesis (Sun-to-Liquid, StL).
The partnership with HCS Group enables Lufthansa Group to support the production of SAF ‘Made in Germany,’ in line with Europe’s Renewable Energy Directive RED II. This strategic collaboration reinforces Lufthansa Group’s ambitious sustainability goals, aiming for a carbon-neutral balance by 2050 and a 50% reduction in net CO2 emissions compared to 2019 by 2030. These reduction targets were validated by the independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), making Lufthansa Group the first European airline group with scientifically aligned CO2 reduction objectives, in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement.
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Lufthansa Group’s efforts in sustainable aviation encompass fleet modernization, increased use of SAF, continuous flight operations optimization, and eco-friendly offerings for passengers and cargo transportation. Additionally, the group has been actively supporting global climate and weather research for many years. With this new collaboration, Lufthansa Group reinforces its commitment to driving the aviation industry towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
