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Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) firm NorSAF has signed a permanent license agreement with engineering and tech company KBR for the deployment of PureSAF technology.
The agreement grants NorSAF exclusivity to use the technology, establishing a strategic foundation for the potential development of Europe’s first commercial-scale facility capable of producing 100% drop-in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF/eSAF) at the Port of Liepaja in Latvia. The technology has been developed by Swedish Biofuels and exclusively licensed to KBR for commercial deployment.
Unlike traditional sustainable aviation fuels that must be blended with conventional fossil kerosene to safely lubricate and seal aircraft engine components, a 100% drop-in fuel is unique because its chemical composition completely mimics fossil jet fuel, allowing it to power existing aircraft and fuel infrastructure at full strength without any modifications.
While current PureSAF certification allows for a 50/50 blend with fossil kerosene, regulatory approval for the fuel to be used at full drop-in capacity in Europe is currently underway and is anticipated by industry participants in 2026 subject to applicable certification approvals by ASTM.
The progression of the project, including finalising development phases and start of construction, remains subject to securing necessary support and commitments from strategic partners. NorSAF said it “welcomes interest” from additional equity investors.
The facility will produce both SAF from advanced bioethanol and eSAF, from green hydrogen and biogenic CO₂.
By using green electricity to power electrolysis for hydrogen production and combining it with captured carbon, the project will benefit from a complete green energy cycle.
Greenhouse gas emissions from the proposed production process are projected to drop by approximately 83% compared to conventional jet fuel production. The intent is to source all feedstocks within Europe to strengthen the continent’s energy independence and industrial resilience.
With a target annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes of SAF/eSAF, the project is provisionally expected to begin operations in 2031.
This timeline is intended to align with the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation mandates, which require SAF adoption to reach 70% by 2050. The fuel produced by the project would be supplied to aviation companies in Europe to help decrease their carbon footprint.
Jānis Kisiels, Board Member of NorSAF, said recent global events have underscored that energy sovereignty is no longer just an economic goal, but a matter of national and regional security.
“By producing a sustainable, 100% drop-in fuels at scale using local, European-sourced feedstocks, we are building a resilient, self-sufficient energy ecosystem that reduces our dependence on external fossil fuel markets and strengthens Europe’s industrial backbone,” he said.
Jay Ibrahim, President, KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions, said the project will drive Latvia’s transition toward cleaner aviation and reinforce Europe’s leadership in sustainable fuel innovation.
“KBR is committed to providing viable energy solutions and our PureSAF process not only scales SAF production but also offers an opportunity to co-process CO2 and syngas in the same plant and produce a fungible jet fuel ready for use jet, without the need to blend with traditional jet fuel,” he said.
