Metafuels to build Rotterdam plant for sustainable aviation fuel

Key Takeaways

• Metafuels will open a Rotterdam plant producing 12,000 liters of e-SAF daily, scaling to 120,000 liters in phase two.
• The company partners with Evos Rotterdam for logistics and renewable methanol storage, enabling efficient SAF production and distribution.
• Rotterdam becomes a major SAF hub alongside Neste, supporting EU climate goals and creating green jobs in aviation.

Swiss Startup Metafuels Selects Rotterdam for New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant

Metafuels, a Swiss technology startup, has chosen Rotterdam in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 as the site for its first large-scale plant to make sustainable aviation fuel, also known as SAF. This decision marks a big step in Metafuels’ growth across Europe, bringing new ideas to an industry aiming to cut its carbon emissions.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes this move important not only for the company but also for Rotterdam, the aviation sector, and the environment.

Metafuels’ Plan in Rotterdam

Metafuels has announced that its project in Rotterdam is called Turbe. The new plant will open in the Port of Rotterdam 🇳🇱, one of the busiest and most connected ports in Europe.

• Initial Production: In its first phase, the plant will make 12,000 liters of e-SAF every day. E-SAF stands for electronic sustainable aviation fuel, which is produced using renewable electricity and clean materials.
• Second Phase Ambition: The goal for the second phase is to produce 120,000 liters per day, a ten-fold increase over the plant’s starting capacity. This would make the Rotterdam facility one of the leading sites for SAF production in Europe.

Metafuels’ announcement follows its earlier news about another planned SAF plant in Denmark 🇩🇰, called Pizol. These projects show a clear plan to expand on a European scale.

Strategic Partnership: Metafuels and Evos Rotterdam

To make the Rotterdam project work, Metafuels has teamed up with Evos Rotterdam. Evos is a major storage company for liquid energy and chemicals in Europe. The Evos Rotterdam terminal has a key advantage: it is a large, dedicated hub for methanol and the biggest provider of ethanol storage on the continent.

Here’s why this partnership matters:

• Multi-Mode Connections: The terminal can move methanol by ship, barge, truck, and train. This makes it much easier to bring in raw materials and send out finished SAF to customers everywhere.
• Ready for Renewable Fuels: The Evos terminal has facilities to store renewable methanol, which meets international quality standards set by the International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association (IMPCA).
• Supporting Growth: With Evos’ infrastructure, Metafuels can scale up production quickly and serve airlines and other customers as they switch to greener fuels.

How Metafuels Makes Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Metafuels uses a method called the methanol-to-SAF pathway. In simple terms, the company turns methanol — which can be made renewably — into a type of jet fuel that causes much less pollution compared to regular kerosene used by airplanes.

Some key facts about Metafuels’ technology include:

• Aerobrew Process: Metafuels calls its production method “aerobrew.” This is its own way of making e-SAF, building on previous work, such as a deal with European Energy in 2023 to set up a similar plant.
• Focus on E-Methanol: E-methanol is methanol produced with renewable electricity, making it much cleaner than traditional sources.
• Step Toward Zero Emissions: By using this process, airlines can dramatically cut their carbon footprint.

For further reading on official standards and support for renewable fuels, you can visit the European Commission’s energy policy page.

Why Rotterdam? Advantages of the Location

Rotterdam 🇳🇱 is one of Europe’s busiest ports, with fantastic links to the rest of the continent and the wider world. For a project as ambitious as Metafuels’, location is everything.

Here’s why Rotterdam is a smart choice:

• Port Infrastructure: The port handles vast amounts of goods and energy products. It can easily manage large supplies of methanol and ship out sustainable aviation fuel.
• Industry Cluster: Many energy, chemical, and logistics companies operate here. This means Metafuels can work alongside partners and experts with deep knowledge.
• Policy Support: The Dutch government and the European Union support clean energy projects, making it easier for startups like Metafuels to grow.
• Easy Export: From Rotterdam, fuels can reach airlines and airports all over Europe quickly and efficiently.

The Bigger Picture: Growing SAF Activity in Rotterdam

Metafuels is not the only company investing in sustainable aviation fuel in Rotterdam. In April 2025, Neste, another leading producer of renewable fuels, started making SAF at its refinery in the city. This shows how important Rotterdam is becoming in the race to supply greener fuels for planes.

Key facts about SAF production in Rotterdam:

• Multiple Players: With both Metafuels and Neste active in the city, Rotterdam is turning into a hub for sustainable aviation innovations.
• Encourages Investment: As more companies see others succeed, it becomes more attractive to invest in this space.
• Speeds Up Decarbonization: Since aviation is a big source of greenhouse gases, focusing many efforts in one major port lets the industry move faster toward cleaner operations.

The Role of Renewable Methanol

Renewable methanol is crucial in sectors that find it hard to lower their carbon emissions, such as shipping and aviation.

• Cleaner Marine Fuel: In ships, methanol can replace dirtier fuels, cutting down emissions.
• Fuel for SAF: In aviation, renewable methanol is an important building block for producing SAF through methods like aerobrew.
• Meets Stringent Specs: Using renewable methanol that meets IMPCA specifications ensures quality and safety for both production and use.

Metafuels’ focus on renewable methanol aligns with both industry demands and environmental goals.

Meeting the Challenge: Cost and Supply Issues

Even as demand grows, the sustainable aviation fuel sector faces obstacles. As airlines try to become carbon neutral, two big problems stand out:

1. High Costs: SAF is still more expensive than regular jet fuel. This makes airlines hesitant to switch, unless required by rules or supported by incentives.
2. Limited Supply: There just isn’t enough SAF to meet current needs, let alone future demand. Building new plants like the one in Rotterdam helps, but more will need to follow.

By opening a commercial-scale facility, Metafuels is trying to address both problems — increasing supply in Europe and working toward lowering costs by scaling up its technology.

Industry Reactions and Stakeholder Impact

This news affects many players in the industry.

• Airlines: Airlines facing strict carbon rules will have more options to buy SAF. This can help them hit their environmental targets and meet new EU regulations.
• Port of Rotterdam 🇳🇱: The port stands to strengthen its role as a green hub, attracting more investment and jobs.
• Evos: As a partner, Evos can explore new business in the renewable fuels market, shifting from traditional fuels to greener ones.
• Researchers and Policymakers: With ongoing projects, the region can collect valuable data on how to build SAF plants and improve processes.

The European Policy Angle

European Union targets for clean fuel are ambitious. By 2050, airlines are expected to drastically reduce or even eliminate their carbon emissions. Airports, fuel producers, and governments are all pushing for more SAF availability.

Rotterdam 🇳🇱, as a major logistics and fuel center, is well placed to help reach these targets. The city’s openness to green energy and its investment in infrastructure give projects like Metafuels a chance to prove what’s possible.

Community and Environmental Benefits

Shifting to sustainable aviation fuel isn’t just about business. There are big benefits for nearby communities and for the environment as a whole:

• Cleaner Air: Using SAF cuts down on pollutants that cause smog and health problems.
• New Jobs: Building and running the plant will create skilled jobs in the region, from engineers to plant operators.
• Lower Carbon Emissions: Air travel is a big contributor to global warming. SAF can help reduce this impact as more companies adopt it.

These positive outcomes make the Turbe project appealing beyond just the world of aviation.

Future Prospects: What’s Next for Metafuels?

Metafuels’ move into Rotterdam 🇳🇱 is only one part of a broader expansion. With a similar plant called Pizol planned for Denmark 🇩🇰, the company is quickening its pace in Europe.

Looking ahead:

• Scaling Faster: Once the second phase in Rotterdam goes live, with production of 120,000 liters per day, Metafuels could become one of the continent’s largest SAF makers.
• Influencing Others: Success here might encourage other companies to try the methanol-to-SAF pathway, broadening the push for greener aviation worldwide.
• Technology Exports: Refinements to the aerobrew process in Rotterdam could then be used elsewhere, supporting new green fuel plants around the globe.
• Wider Green Impact: The spread of such plants can help governments and airlines worldwide meet their climate promises.

Summary and Next Steps

The choice by Metafuels to build its first commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel facility in Rotterdam 🇳🇱 could shape the future of green air travel. Through its partnership with Evos and the unique benefits of Rotterdam as a port and energy hub, the company is addressing important issues for airlines and the planet. The plant’s opening will boost Europe’s supply of SAF, support local industry, and create a template for future projects.

For those interested in the bigger picture around sustainable aviation fuels and their regulations in Europe, checking the European Commission’s renewable energy policy provides government-level guidance.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, the actions of Metafuels and its ongoing growth highlight how forward-thinking companies and supportive policies can help solve some of the toughest challenges in making air travel more sustainable.

Metafuels has set out a clear plan: start strong in Rotterdam, grow fast, and help lead the way toward cleaner skies, both in Europe and around the world.

Learn Today

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) → A cleaner alternative jet fuel made from renewable sources, significantly reducing aviation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
E-Methanol → Methanol produced using renewable electricity, used as a sustainable base in making advanced aviation fuels.
Aerobrew Process → Metafuels’ proprietary technology converting renewable methanol into sustainable aviation fuel, designed to lower carbon emissions.
IMPCA Specifications → International standards from the International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association ensuring methanol quality and safety.
Port Infrastructure → The systems and facilities enabling handling, storage, and transportation of goods and fuels in major seaports like Rotterdam.

This Article in a Nutshell

Metafuels, a Swiss startup, selected Rotterdam for its first large-scale sustainable aviation fuel plant, aiming to revolutionize green air travel. Partnering with Evos, Metafuels will scale e-SAF production, making Rotterdam a European SAF hub. This strategic move optimizes logistics, boosts local jobs, and supports global decarbonization ambitions.
— By VisaVerge.com

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