In April 2025, CAC Engineering, in collaboration with TU Bergakademie Freiberg and other partners, launched a pilot plant in Freiberg, Germany, marking a significant milestone in the development of synthetic jet fuel. This facility has successfully produced its initial batches of environmentally friendly jet fuel, paving the way for a large-scale industrial plant expected within four to six years. The project, part of the Ewopro research initiative, focuses on advancing the methanol-to-jet fuel production process, aiming to optimize and scale this innovative technology.

Commissioned in Freiberg, the new pilot plant by CAC Engineering and TU Bergakademie Freiberg marks a key step toward large-scale production of sustainable aviation fuel from renewable methanol.

The Freiberg pilot plant, located at the Institute of Energy Process Engineering and Chemical Engineering (IEC), is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, with coordination from Project Management Jülich (PTJ). Jörg Engelmann, Managing Director of CAC Engineering, stated: “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.” He highlighted the advantages of methanol-based production, noting that methanol can be efficiently produced and transported as a liquid energy source, with processing possible at optimal locations across Europe.

The Ewopro project involves key partners, including DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (Fraunhofer IKTS), alongside industry and policy collaborators who support the technology’s practical application and market entry. CAC Engineering, based in Chemnitz, leads the project and licenses the technology. The company has already brought its synthetic gasoline technology, CAC Methafuel, to market readiness and is planning Germany’s first commercial gasoline synthesis plant.

The synthetic jet fuel produced in Freiberg will undergo certification, with samples scheduled for submission to the international standardization organization ASTM in 2026. A preliminary evaluation in 2024, conducted under the Kerosyn100 research project, showed promising results. Looking ahead, the partners aim to establish Germany’s first industrial-scale jet fuel production plant by 2030, with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes, following an estimated three-year construction period.

This initiative represents a significant step toward sustainable aviation fuel, leveraging renewable methanol to reduce reliance on fossil-based fuels while fostering innovation and economic growth in Germany and Europe.