Across two days, the summit brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology providers to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the sector – from market readiness and regulation to scaling production and reducing costs.
The event opened on Day 1 with Sanjeev Gajjela, Founder and CEO of PySAF, setting the tone for a programme focused on practical solutions and collaboration. Day 2 was chaired by Global e-Fuels’ own James Patterson, continuing the conversation with a strong focus on implementation and next steps.
Key Takeaways from the Summit
One of the central themes was the importance of market readiness in achieving emissions targets, highlighted by Jo Dardenne, Policy Officer at the European Commission, who emphasised the need for alignment between policy ambition and industry capability.
From a broader energy perspective, Frank Mischler, Director of International PtX Hub, made the compelling point that renewables are everywhere. Unlike fossil fuels, which are geographically constrained, renewable energy presents a more distributed opportunity – opening the market to a wider range of players and regions.
The challenge of scaling e-SAF was addressed by Arno Zimmermann, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Spark e-Fuels, who outlined both the opportunity and the barriers. While e-SAF has the potential to enhance energy security and unlock a market worth hundreds of billions of euros, production costs and intermittency remain key hurdles. Spark’s approach, including load-flexible RWGS and Fischer-Tropsch technologies, aims to tackle these challenges, with collaboration playing a central role.
Policy and market structure were also under the spotlight. Camille Mutrelle, Aviation Policy Officer at Transport & Environment (T&E), highlighted that while bio-SAF is gaining traction, e-SAF continues to face challenges around capital intensity, production costs, and regulatory uncertainty. However, Europe remains a global leader in this space. Among the proposed solutions was the introduction of double-sided auctions, designed to provide price stability for producers while ensuring affordability for buyers.
From Concept to Commercial: e-SAF in Action
While much of the summit focused on the "how," two standout presentations showcased projects that are already "off the ground" and moving toward industrial-scale reality:
- Infinium – The Road to FID: James Vaughan, Director of International Business Development, shared critical insights into the "Roadrunner" project. His keynote focused on the practicalities of reaching a Final Investment Decision (FID) and how Infinium is paving the way for large-scale, bankable e-fuel facilities.
- Twelve – Unlocking the PtL Value Proposition: Ashwin Jadhav, Vice President of Business Development, explored the Power-to-Liquid (PtL) pathway. By focusing on carbon transformation, Twelve is demonstrating how to turn emissions into a high-value asset, proving the commercial viability of the e-SAF value chain.
Looking Ahead: The Next Wave of Technology
The summit concluded with a high-level panel discussion focused on the upcoming technological developments that will define the next decade of aviation.
Featuring Nacho Gimenez (COO, OXCCU), Ashwin Jadhav (VP of Business Development, Twelve), and Christoph Falter (Head of Strategy, Synhelion), the session explored the unique opportunities and challenges of emerging pathways. From OXCCU’s simplified catalytic approach to Synhelion’s solar-driven fuel production, the message was clear: while the barriers to entry remain high, the technological diversity within the e-SAF space is its greatest strength.
What’s Next for e-Fuels?
What stood out across the summit was the shared recognition that scaling e-SAF will require coordinated action – across policy, technology, and investment. The opportunities are clear, but so too are the challenges.
If you’re looking to stay ahead of developments in e-SAF, and the wider e-fuels landscape, make sure to explore the latest insights in Global e-Fuels Magazine.
Our newly launched publication features in-depth articles from across the industry – including perspectives from bse Methanol on methanol as a next-generation e-fuel, and Johnson Matthey on moving beyond first-generation SAF.
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