Greenlyte to setup next-gen SAF lab at Düsseldorf Airport

German synthetic fuels technology company Greenlyte said it has received go-ahead for building a real-world laboratory for production of sustainable aviation fuel at the Düsseldorf Airport using the power-to-liquid kerosene process.

“With this project, we are taking the next big step: we want to show that eSAF can be produced cost-effectively and scalably – and that this is precisely how our technology will become a catalyst for transforming aviation,” says Florian Hildebrand, CEO and co-founder of Greenlyte.

The agreement also included intention from Lufthansa Group airline Eurowings to purchase SAF produced at the facility for an initial period of three years. The agreement also mentions Eurowings being the strategic partner at the innovative project.

The laboratory, which upon completion due in 2028 is slated to be one of the world’s largest facilities for the production of so-called eSAF via direct air capture, is being built on the airport grounds next to the motorway and the Skytrain line.

“We are very pleased to be working with Euref Campus and Eurowings to advance the project of the Essen-based start-up and thus move one step closer to the SAF real-world laboratory at our airport,” said Lars Redeligx, CEO of Düsseldorf Airport.

Greenlyte extracts CO2 directly from the atmosphere, produces green hydrogen in the same process and converts both into synthetic fuel.

The electricity requirement is covered proportionally by a photovoltaic system installed locally at the airport.

The real-world laboratory’s total annual production capacity of PtL-SAF is projected to be around 150 tonnes with plant serving as a proof of concept and pave the way for commercial plants with a significantly higher capacity.