EcoCeres has launched a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pilot programme in China together with The Second Research Institute of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CASRI), China National Aviation Fuel Group (CNAF), China Southern Airlines, Air China Cargo, Sichuan Airlines, and Huarong Chemical.
On 16 March, SAF produced at EcoCeres’ Zhangjiagang facility and blended by CNAF was used to refuel multiple commercial flights at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.
“Launching this SAF pilot programme in China together with such influential partners is a proud moment for EcoCeres and a powerful signal for the future of sustainable aviation,” said Matti Lievonen, chief executive of EcoCeres.
“By combining our waste-to-fuel technology with the scale and expertise of leading aviation fuel and airline ecosystems, we are turning climate ambition into practical action.”
EcoCeres’ SAF is produced from waste and residue feedstocks via its proprietary process, delivering up to 90% lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to conventional jet fuel.
The project, named Project Spark, has achieved a number of milestones, including the pilot implementation of China’s independent SAF sustainability certification system.
Another milestone has been the pilot conversion of SAF-related green premiums into low-carbon investments jointly borne by multiple stakeholders, helping to overcome bottlenecks to the large-scale deployment of green aviation fuel.
The initiative also enabled the compliant transfer of environmental credits via AnchorTrace, a Scope 3 SAF environmental credit registration and retirement platform jointly developed by CNAF and CASRI.
Anchor Trace transfers Scope 3 emissions to corporate customers and Scope 1 emissions to airlines.
Following this initiative to connect its production capabilities with leading aviation partners in China, EcoCeres plans to continue working closely with airlines, fuel suppliers, regulators and research institutions to support the long-term net-zero ambitions of China and the wider region.
In addition to this new cooperation in mainland China, EcoCeres’ SAF is already being supplied to international carriers including Air New Zealand, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
