Boeing and Technion advance sustainable jet fuel development to the application phase

After completing the feasibility study, the joint center is moving on to developing technologies for commercial production of SAF from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

Boeing and the Technion’s joint innovation center for Sustainable Jet Fuel (SAF) announced yesterday (January 26) that it has moved into the applied development phase, following the completion of the research and feasibility phase. Dr. Brandon Nelson, President of Boeing Global, visited the Technion to mark this milestone in the center’s operations, which will launch in 2023.

The purpose of the project and the new phase

The strategic partnership between Boeing and the Technion focuses on the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with the goal of making production economically viable and commercially competitive. The now announced practical phase will focus on the development and production of SAF from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide, while improving the production processes to a commercial level.

According to the partners in the venture, long-term growth in the aviation sector is contingent on the production of SAF from these raw materials, and the joint center aims to advance this process to a level that will enable production at a competitive cost.

The research structure and partners

The partnership involves 11 faculty members and dozens of research students from five different faculties at the Technion, who are working on various aspects of aviation fuel production. These include efficient and competitive production, theoretical aspects of catalytic reactions and fuel combustion, safety aspects, the complete product life cycle, and the establishment and operation of an experimental fuel testing facility at the Technion — the second of its kind in the world.

Government support

The Israeli government has taken steps and allocated financial support to accelerate the Israeli SAF industry. In doing so, it established the iSAF research consortium through the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and SAF-IL, an acceleration program for Israeli startup companies engaged in SAF development, through the Innovation Authority.

The announcement of the Boeing-Technion partnership was originally planned for October 2023. Despite the events of October 7 and the war that broke out in their wake, it was decided to continue the technical work. Dr. Brandon Nelson said a few months later: "We launched this project, a project of resilience and innovation in the spirit of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, shortly after the horrific attack of October 7."

Dr. Brandon Nelson, a physician by training who previously held senior positions in the Australian government, said: "Beyond providing high-quality, fuel-efficient airplanes to our customers, Boeing is working globally and regionally to strengthen energy security, support the growth of the civil aviation industry, and create new economic opportunities through sustainable jet fuel and other technologies. We are pleased to collaborate with the Technion and the other partners in SAF, the Boeing-Technion Innovation Center, in the field of Sustainable Jet Fuel (SAF), and to support the Israeli aerospace industry."

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan said: "The partnership with Boeing, a leading global player in the field of aviation, is for us an expression of trust in the Technion, its researchers, and our technological capabilities. In this partnership, Technion experts take on a formidable task: to develop technologies for producing clean fuels in sustainable processes and thus make a significant contribution to the world of aviation - and no less importantly, to human health and the environment."

Boeing Israel President Maj. Gen. (Res.) Ido Nehushtan noted that "Boeing was active in Israel even before its declaration of independence, and is a vital supplier to El Al and the Israeli Air Force. Israeli industries are currently major suppliers to Boeing, and many Israeli systems are integrated into Boeing products around the world."