Haffner Energy And IGNIS P2X Launch AeroVerde In Spain To Produce BioSAF And e-SAF From Residual Biomass, Supporting EU SAF Mandate

Haffner Energy, a pioneer in advanced biofuels, and IGNIS P2X, a leading Power-to-Energy company, have launched their joint bio and e-SAF project, AeroVerde. The initial phase of the project focuses on selecting the first site in Spain, which will be strategically chosen to optimize local residual biomass availability and proximity to future offtakers.

Gustav Granberg, Director of P2X Business Development & Strategy at IGNIS P2X, explained that AeroVerde arose from Haffner Energy’s innovative approach to converting residual biomass into valuable products. He said that IGNIS P2X is exploring opportunities to expand in the bio and e-SAF production sector, and Haffner Energy was a natural partner for collaboration. “We are now entering an initial phase focused on identifying the optimal project location in Spain,” Granberg added.

Haffner Energy’s proprietary technology converts residual biomass, which does not compete with food or feed uses, into hydrogen-rich syngas. This syngas can then be processed into bioSAF, an advanced biofuel, using pathways such as Alcohol-to-Jet and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. In addition, the excess biogenic CO2 generated during syngas production can be combined with renewable hydrogen of non-biological origin (RFNBO), produced by IGNIS P2X, to create e-SAF, a synthetic aviation fuel.

The project comes at a time when the European SAF market is under pressure to expand rapidly. Under the ReFuelEU Aviation mandate, airlines will be required to use a 6% SAF blend in the European Union by 2030. However, according to an October report by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), SAF made up only 0.6% of all aviation fuel supplied in the EU in 2024, with about 55% produced domestically. Most of the SAF used in the EU was derived from used cooking oil and waste animal fats (HEFA), with 69% imported from Asia. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has raised concerns about the carbon footprint of imported SAF feedstocks, noting that it can undermine the environmental benefits of the EU SAF mandate.

Marcella Franchi, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of SAF at Haffner Energy, highlighted the project’s circular economy approach. She said, “We are excited to embark on this journey with IGNIS P2X. Our shared values, combined with IGNIS’s strong presence in the Spanish market, make them the ideal partner for us on the Iberian Peninsula.”

IGNIS, Spain’s largest independent energy manager, operates more than 9 GW of power assets both domestically and internationally. As a global renewable energy developer and operator, the group manages a total portfolio of over 30 GW of projects across Europe, the United States, Latin America, and Asia. In 2024, IGNIS launched its P2X platform, IGNIS P2X, to develop projects in green hydrogen, ammonia, and other clean technologies in Spain and internationally. Through AeroVerde, Haffner Energy and IGNIS P2X aim to expand sustainable aviation fuel production in Europe while leveraging innovative technologies and circular economy principles to accelerate the transition to cleaner aviation fuels.