Kuehne+Nagel and Lufthansa Cargo have agreed on an exclusive partnership for the promotion and use of power-to-liquid (PTL) synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The two companies have partnered to purchase 25,000 litres of the fuel per year from what will become the world's first production site for synthetic crude oil in Werlte/Emsland in Germany for the next five years.

The facility that will produce the fuel is due to begin operations in the first quarter of next year.

SAF can be produced in various ways. Until now, Kuehne+Nagel and Lufthansa Cargo have used bio SAF to reduce the carbon footprint of airreight. 

While bio SAF is produced from biomass (waste products and feedstocks with low carbon content), the primary energy source and feedstocks for the production of synthetic SAF are renewable electricity, water and carbon dioxide (CO2).

“Synthetic SAF is considered the long‐term solution for the industry as it can be produced without availability limits, avoiding biomass supply limitations, and can reduce emissions up to 100%,” the partners said.

Dorothea von Boxberg, Lufthansa Cargo chief executive, said: “We clearly see the key to a sustainable reduction of our emissions in flight operations in the research and use of synthetic, sustainable aviation fuels.

“The fact that we are now pioneering power-to-liquid technology together with Kuehne+Nagel makes us particularly proud and shows once again that we are actively tackling our climate protection challenges.”

Yngve Ruud, member of the management board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for air logistics, added: “Already now, Kuehne+Nagel customers can avoid carbon emissions of their shipments globally with our bio SAF solutions and I am delighted to see that time has come for synthetic SAF as the long‐term solution for aviation.

“By securing the first power-to-liquid fuel production together with Lufthansa Cargo, we are sending a strong message of commitment and collaboration, inviting our industry colleagues and customers to join us in creating the low-carbon economy of the future already today.”

Non-profit group Atmosfair is developing an industrial plant to produce the synthetic crude oil.

This crude oil is then refined into finished Jet A1 fuel for aircraft at the Heide refinery north of Hamburg.

Regular operation is planned by Atmosfair for the first quarter of 2022.

Synthetic fuels have not yet been produced industrially and are available only in laboratory quantities.

K+N strives for greener air cargo supply chains

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