Germany’s Largest e-SAF Facility: €350 Million Funding for Power-to-Liquid Project in Schwedt

Berlin (Germany) / Amsterdam (Netherlands) - Sustainable aviation fuels (e-SAF) are considered a key technology to reduce CO₂emissions in aviation. With €350 million in funding, Concrete Chemicals intends to build Germany’s largest e-SAF production facility, strengthening industrial supply of sustainable aviation fuel.

The funding has been approved at national and state level, and the European Commission is conducting the final review. The PtL plant is expected to produce more than 37,000 tonnes of synthetic kerosene and naphtha annually, saving at least 100,000 tonnes of fossil CO₂in aviation. For CO₂sourcing, the consortium plans a cooperation with LEIPA in Schwedt.

Funding as an Accelerator for e-SAF Industrialisation in Germany

The joint venture Concrete Chemicals, consisting of ENERTRAG and Zaffra, will receive €350 million in funding to build Germany’s largest industrial-scale production facility for sustainable aviation fuels (e-SAF) in Schwedt. The funding was approved at national and state level; according to both companies, the European Commission’s review is “in its final phase.”

The measure is classified under the Climate, Energy and Environmental Aid Guidelines (CEEAG) and aims to “accelerate the development of a competitive clean hydrogen economy while strengthening the EU’s energy sovereignty.”

As a central component of the EU energy and climate strategy, Concrete Chemicals directly supports the blending quotas of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. Innovation, renewable energy, and climate policy are interconnected here, the companies say. This strengthens European supply chains, creates industrial jobs, and supports the region.

Dr. Gunar Hering, CEO of ENERTRAG, emphasises the importance of the energy transition beyond the electricity sector: “With Concrete Chemicals, we are showing that the energy transition does not stop at electricity - it is now taking off in the skies. Our expertise in renewables enables the cost-efficient use of green hydrogen to power the aviation fuels of the future.”

The technical planning phase begins immediately, and a final investment decision is expected by 2027. Production is planned to support blending quotas from 2030.

PtL Plant, CO₂ Sourcing Strategy and Connection to Hydrogen Infrastructure

Concrete Chemicals plans a power-to-liquid (PtL) plant that produces synthetic kerosene from biogenic CO₂and renewable hydrogen. The plant is designed for a capacity of more than 37,000 tonnes per year, including 30,000 tonnes of e-SAF and 7,000 tonnes of e-naphtha. According to the companies, this can save “at least 100,000 tonnes of fossil CO₂in aviation.”

For CO₂sourcing, a cooperation with LEIPA Georg Leinfelder GmbH is planned. LEIPA is a manufacturer of paper and cardboard products based on recycled paper in Schwedt. This would establish a local CO₂cycle, strengthening the plant’s supply security and creating regional value.

According to ENERTRAG and Zaffra, the project is also aligned with Germany’s emerging hydrogen infrastructure and the objectives of the IPCEI hydrogen framework. The location and design allow for a later connection to the national hydrogen backbone – “subject to infrastructure expansion and regulatory approvals.” This keeps the project scalable and integrable into the European hydrogen market.

Zaffra CEO Jan Toschka highlights the economic policy dimension: “Zaffra and its partners are delivering the kind of frontier industrial innovation Europe urgently needs. This project proves that it is possible to marry innovation with energy resilience, climate ambition, and economic competitiveness - all with European technology, German infrastructure, and Brandenburg-based jobs.”

Overall, the partners view the project as a “blueprint” for SAF facilities to be scalable across Europe. The initiative is intended not only to contribute to the EU’s climate targets but also to strengthen the resilience of the energy sector and make the country more resistant to future crises.

Source: IWR Online, 29 Jan 2026