Germany’s Largest eSAF Facility: €350 Million for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production in Schwedt

Schwedt/Oder (Germany) – As part of the transportation transition, aviation is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize. Sustainable aviation fuels such as eSAF are considered a practical lever to reduce emissions in air transport quickly and on an industrial scale. Germany and the state of Brandenburg are now making a strong statement with a major funding commitment.

Germany’s largest production facility for sustainable aviation fuels is set to be built in Schwedt/Oder. The federal government and the state of Brandenburg are funding the “Brandenburg eSAF” project (formerly Concrete Chemicals) with a total of €350 million. From 2030, the facility is expected to cover one-quarter of Germany’s eSAF demand. Enertrag and Zaffra plan to build an industrial eSAF production plant with an annual capacity of over 30,000 tonnes on the site of the PCK refinery in Schwedt. The total investment exceeds €500 million. With the official handover of the funding approval, the schedule and financing are now taking concrete shape.

€350 Million for Climate-Neutral Aviation Fuel at Industrial Scale

On the premises of the PCK refinery in Schwedt/Oder, Germany’s largest facility for the production of Electric Sustainable Aviation Fuels (eSAF) is set to become operational from 2030. The official handover of the funding approval by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche and Brandenburg’s Minister President Dietmar Woidke marked the starting signal. The federal government and the state are jointly funding the project with €350 million – the federal government contributing €245 million, the state of Brandenburg €104 million. The total investment volume amounts to over €500 million.

The plant will be built by Enertrag and Zaffra – a joint venture between Topsoe and Sasol – and is expected to produce more than 30,000 tonnes of eSAF annually. This corresponds to one-quarter of Germany’s eSAF blending quota, as stipulated by the European ReFuelEU Aviation regulation from 2030. Compared with fossil fuels, the eSAF produced in this way reduces CO₂ emissions by more than 90 percent.

Brandenburg eSAF will also contribute to Germany’s energy sovereignty: by converting locally generated renewable electricity into aviation fuel on-site, the project reduces dependence on volatile oil imports and strengthens domestic supply chains. The Schwedt site, whose refinery historically relied on crude oil imports, is thus gradually transforming into a hub for green energy production.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche said: “What matters now is to permanently stabilise the energy supply at PCK and in the region, to strengthen growth potential in a targeted way, and to stimulate new investment. The 'Brandenburg eSAF' project we are funding is a central pillar of this effort: it combines industrial strength with innovation, opens up new value chains, and creates long-term prospects for employment, prosperity, and energy security.”

Brandenburg’s Minister President Dietmar Woidke emphasized the regional importance: “Brandenburg was, is, and will remain a pioneer in new propulsion technologies, including in aviation.”

“With the Brandenburg eSAF project, we are making a decisive investment in the future of our industrial heartland at exactly the right time. Together, we are demonstrating that the transition to green industry cannot succeed by working against existing industrial regions - only by working with them“, Martina Klement, Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, highlighted the strategic dimension.

Technology, Raw Materials, and Value Creation from the Region

The production process combines green hydrogen with biogenic CO₂ via the Fischer-Tropsch process. Zaffra contributes its G2L-eFuels platform, which combines Sasol’s Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with Topsoe’s eREACT technology. Enertrag provides expertise in hydrogen electrolysis. The required CO₂ is supplied by LEIPA Georg Leinfelder, a paper manufacturer based in Schwedt. The green hydrogen is predominantly sourced via the H₂ core network – the FLOW pipeline from Gascade – supplemented by on-site electrolysis.

Jan Toschka, CEO of Zaffra, sees the project as exemplary: “Zaffra provides the technology, Enertrag the renewable energy, and Schwedt the infrastructure. Together, we are creating a blueprint for the European eSAF industry here.”

Dr. Gunar Hering, CEO of Enertrag, emphasizes the regional anchoring: “Brandenburg eSAF brings together what belongs together: renewable energy from the region, Schwedt’s industrial heritage, and clear political commitment from federal and state governments.”

In addition to the climate protection aspect, the project promises significant economic impulses for the structurally weak region: around 150 permanent jobs will be created on-site, with up to 1,500 jobs expected in the region during the construction phase. The engineering studies for plant construction were awarded to the Griesemann Group in April 2026. The final investment decision is planned by the end of 2027, with production targeted to start in 2030.

Source: IWR Online, 13 May 2026