Sustainable aviation fuel pioneer completes successful trials

Nova Pangaea Technologies, the UK company with a unique process to create sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from waste biomass, has completed successful endurance trials that further validate its technology.

The trials, which took place at its demonstration plant on Teesside, show continuous stable operation in production runs of up to 72 hours and achieved above target yields.

It marks another step forward for Nova Pangaea, which will be raising funds to progress its first commercial plant, and comes as the aviation industry seeks ways to scale up SAF production using other sustainable raw materials to end the current dependence on waste oils and fats.

Nova Pangaea is working with British Airways and LanzaJet on Project Speedbird, an initiative supported by the UK government to produce carbon-negative aviation fuel from local waste biomass to decarbonise the aviation sector. For Speedbird, Nova Pangaea will construct four UK facilities to produce bioethanol from local wastes for upgrading to SAF.

Nova Pangaea’s REFNOVA process converts waste biomass and residues, such as wood chips, sawdust, or wheat straw, into ethanol, which can be used to make SAF and renewable diesel. It also produces a valuable co-product, biochar, which permanently captures carbon and makes the whole process carbon negative – removing more CO2 from the atmosphere than it releases.

The latest trials used softwood residues from timber processing. Multiple runs were carried out processing up to 3 tonnes of feedstock per day.

They follow initial smaller-scale trials in early 2025 which demonstrated the viability of the process outside of the laboratory. More trials will take place next year to fine tune the design of the first commercial scale plant.

By enabling the use of waste biomass, Nova Pangaea’s process can help prevent potential shortages of SAF in the future. Under UK and EU rules, airlines must use an increasing proportion of SAF in aviation fuel – rising from 2% to as much as 70% in 2050. However, at present almost all SAF comes from used cooking oil, which is in limited supply and will not be enough to meet future demand.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in 2030 there will be enough waste biomass available in Europe including the UK to produce around 30 million tonnes of SAF, equivalent to the European SAF targets for 2050.

Stewart Stewart, CEO of Nova Pangaea, said: “The latest trials have validated our technology and should further underpin the confidence of investors on our journey towards building our first commercial plant.

“The SAF industry is currently at a critical point. Demand is increasing and supply chain shocks such as in the Middle East show the need to find an alternative to fossil fuels, yet aviation is currently reliant on SAF from a single feedstock, which will not be enough to meet growing SAF demand.

“Nova Pangaea’s tried and tested technology offers a genuine alternative. By tapping into the plentiful supplies of waste biomass, we can boost SAF production – enhancing our energy security, and building a new domestic industry that generates jobs and revenues while reducing fossil fuel emissions.”

Nova Pangaea has raised over £21m to date from investors, including International Airlines Group, PXN Ventures, Mercia Ventures and the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, alongside UK government grant funding awarded under the Advanced Fuels Fund competition.