Methanol-to-Jet Fuel Germany's Largest SAF Pilot Plant Begins Operation in Freiberg

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An advanced pilot plant for methanol-based sustainable aviation fuel has been commissioned in Freiberg. Developed by CAC Engineering and TU Bergakademie Freiberg, the facility aims to support future large-scale production of climate-neutral jet fuel.

Together with other partners, CAC Engineering and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg have taken another important step in the development of synthetic jet fuel. In April 2025, they commissioned a pilot plant in Freiberg, an important step towards a large-scale plant. The first litres of the environmentally friendly jet fuel have already been produced. The aim is to successively optimise and further develop the technology in order to build Germany's first large-scale industrial and commercial plant using the methanol-to-jet fuel production route in four to six years. The plant at the Institute of Energy Process Engineering and Chemical Engineering (IEC) in Freiberg is part of the so-called Ewopro research project with the objective of developing the olefins-to-jet fuel process as a highly innovative stage in the production of jet fuel from renewable methanol. EwOPro is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK), which now operates under the name of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and coordinated by Project Management Jülich (PTJ).

“With our patented Methajet technology, we are creating a sustainable alternative to fossil jet fuel. At the same time, we strengthen the value creation in Germany and Europe,” explains Jörg Engelmann, Managing Director of CAC Engineering. “In contrast to conventional processes such as Fischer-Tropsch, methanol can be produced at energy-favoured locations and transported efficiently as a liquid energy source. The final processing can take place both at these favourable locations and at European locations with the appropriate infrastructure.” The Chemnitz-based engineering service provider coordinates the project and licenses the technology. For large-scale plant construction CAC has already successfully brought the innovative technology for the production of synthetic, climate-neutral gasoline (CAC Methafuel) to market maturity and is currently planning Germany's first commercial gasoline synthesis plant.

In addition to TU Bergakademie Freiberg, the funded project partners include DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (Fraunhofer IKTS). Associated partners from industry and politics are contributing to the practical application and market launch.

The first jet fuel samples for the certification process are to be submitted to the international standardisation organisation ASTM in 2026. A very successful pre-screening took already place in 2024 as part of the Kerosyn100 research project.

A first industrial and commercial production plant with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year is expected to go into operation as early as 2030, taking into account an expected construction period of around three years.

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