Our FT CANS™ technology: Revolutionising sustainable fuel production

Fischer–Tropsch (FT) technology is a catalytic process that converts synthesis gas (syngas), a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, into synthetic hydrocarbons. These products can be further upgraded into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft, meeting international fuel specifications (ASTM).

In advanced SAF production, FT technology serves as a key conversion step, enabling a wide range of feedstocks to be transformed into finished aviation fuels via syngas. This syngas can be produced from biomass, waste streams such as municipal solid waste (MSW), or from hydrogen and captured CO₂, supporting both biomass to liquid and power-to-liquid (eSAF) pathways.

As a well established industrial process, FT provides a flexible and scalable route to producing high quality, drop in fuels, and is being deployed to support the growth of SAF and aviation decarbonisation.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can be produced through several established technology pathways, each defined by the type of feedstock and conversion process used. The most widely deployed route today is hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), which converts oils and fats into jet fuel.

Other pathways include Fischer–Tropsch (FT), which converts synthesis gas derived from biomass or waste into hydrocarbons; alcohol‑to‑jet (ATJ), which upgrades alcohols such as ethanol; and Power‑to‑Liquid (PtL), which combines hydrogen and captured CO₂ to produce synthetic fuels, often via the syngas pathway.

Together, these pathways provide a range of options for producing drop‑in aviation fuels that meet international specifications (ASTM). In practice, feedstock choice and lifecycle carbon intensity must also align with relevant national and regional sustainability frameworks, supporting the global scale‑up of SAF.

Fischer–Tropsch (FT) is one of several established pathways for producing sustainable aviation fuel, distinguished by its use of synthesis gas as a flexible intermediate linking multiple feedstocks to fuel production. Unlike pathways that rely on specific feedstocks such as oils, fats or alcohols, FT converts synthesis gas derived from biomass, waste or renewable electricity‑based routes into liquid hydrocarbons.

This approach enables a high degree of feedstock flexibility and supports both biomass‑to‑liquid and power‑to‑liquid configurations, depending on the source of the synthesis gas. As a result, FT can be applied across a wide range of project types and geographies.

As a proven and widely deployed industrial process, the FT pathway is used to produce high‑quality, drop‑in fuels that meet international specifications (ASTM), supporting the development of SAF at commercial scale.

Fischer–Tropsch (FT) technology can produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from a wide range of feedstocks by first converting them into synthesis gas (syngas). These feedstocks include biomass residues such as agricultural and forestry waste, as well as waste‑based feedstocks such as municipal solid waste (MSW).

Because the FT process operates via syngas, it is not limited to specific raw materials and can be applied to different feedstock types depending on regional availability. This enables projects to utilise locally available resources, adapt to evolving supply chains, and support energy and fuel security.

In addition, FT‑based routes can be integrated with hydrogen and captured CO₂ to support Power‑to‑Liquid (PtL) pathways, often referred to as eSAF when produced from renewable electricity, further expanding the range of inputs that can be used to produce SAF.

Scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production presents several challenges, particularly around feedstock availability, project development, and overall economics. Many current pathways rely on limited feedstocks, such as oils, fats or specific waste streams, which can constrain supply and create competition with other industries.

In addition, SAF projects often require significant capital investment and must integrate multiple processing steps, from feedstock conversion through to fuel upgrading. Ensuring reliable access to feedstocks, infrastructure, and offtake agreements is critical to successful project delivery.

Meeting sustainability criteria is also essential, as lifecycle carbon intensity and feedstock eligibility must align with the requirements of the target market, which may differ from the location of production. Addressing these factors in combination is key to enabling the long‑term, global scale‑up of SAF.

Developing a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project involves managing a complex set of interrelated risks across the value chain, including technology, feedstocks, markets, policy and financing. Progressing from concept to final investment decision (FID) requires these risks to be clearly understood, quantified and allocated across project stakeholders.

Technology risk centres on demonstrating reliable, scalable performance and successful integration of multiple process steps. Feedstock risk relates to securing long‑term, sustainable supply at consistent quality and cost. Market risk depends on establishing durable offtake agreements, while financing requires confidence in predictable project economics.

Policy stability is also critical, as mandates, incentives and sustainability criteria directly influence project viability. Addressing these risks requires early engagement and alignment across developers, technology providers, customers and investors, helping to reduce uncertainty and support the delivery of bankable SAF projects at scale.

Power‑to‑Liquid (PtL) fuels are produced by combining renewable hydrogen with captured carbon dioxide to create synthetic hydrocarbons suitable for aviation. The process typically begins with the production of hydrogen from renewable electricity via electrolysis, followed by the conversion of CO₂ and hydrogen into synthesis gas (syngas), a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

This syngas is then converted into liquid hydrocarbons through established fuel synthesis processes, including Fischer–Tropsch, and subsequently upgraded into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that meets international specifications.

PtL, often referred to as eSAF when derived from renewable electricity, provides a pathway to produce aviation fuel using widely available inputs such as CO₂, water and renewable power. This makes it particularly attractive in regions with access to low‑cost renewable energy, supporting the long‑term global scale‑up of SAF production.

Synthesis gas (syngas), a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, is a key intermediate in Fischer–Tropsch (FT)‑based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, as well as in several other SAF pathways. It acts as a flexible platform linking a wide range of feedstocks to fuel production, enabling different inputs to be converted into a common form for further processing.

Syngas can be produced from biomass and waste through gasification, or from hydrogen and captured CO₂ in Power‑to‑Liquid (PtL) configurations. It is then converted into liquid hydrocarbons through established synthesis processes, including Fischer–Tropsch, before being upgraded into SAF that meets international specifications (ASTM).

By decoupling feedstock from fuel production, syngas enables scalable, integrated solutions that can adapt to regional resources, support energy security and the development of domestic fuel supply, and underpin both bio‑based SAF and eSAF production.

SAF production is typically deployed through integrated projects that combine feedstock supply, conversion technologies and downstream fuel upgrading within a single facility or coordinated value chain. These projects often involve multiple stakeholders, including developers, technology providers, engineering partners, investors and end users.

Depending on the pathway, facilities may integrate processes such as gasification or electrolysis, synthesis gas production, fuel synthesis (for example via Fischer–Tropsch), and upgrading into certified aviation fuels. Ensuring these elements are effectively integrated is critical to achieving reliable performance and commercial viability.

Successful deployment requires early alignment across the value chain, from feedstock sourcing through to long‑term offtake agreements. Selecting proven technologies with established operational track records and robust performance expectations and delivery frameworks can help reduce risk, support financing, and enable projects to reach final investment decision and deliver SAF at scale.