KEROGREEN · Project

Turning Air, Water and Green Power into Drop-in Jet Fuel

energyPrototypeTRL 4

Imagine pulling CO2 straight out of the air, splitting it apart with a bolt of electricity, and then reassembling those carbon atoms into jet fuel — the same kerosene that already powers every commercial aircraft. That is exactly what KEROGREEN built: a shipping-container-sized machine that takes renewable electricity, water and captured CO2, and produces aviation fuel that burns cleaner because it contains no sulphur and less soot. The beauty is that when the plane burns the fuel, the CO2 goes back into the air — and then gets captured again, creating a closed loop. Think of it as recycling the atmosphere into fuel, powered by wind or solar.

By the numbers

0.1 kg/hr

Kerosene production rate of the demonstration unit

+50%

Projected cost premium over fossil kerosene at current development stage

TRL 3 to 4

Technology readiness level advancement achieved

Consortium partners across 4 countries

62%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise — you cannot simply put a battery on a long-haul aircraft. Airlines face mounting pressure from the EU Emissions Trading System, ICAO offset rules, and passenger expectations, yet sustainable aviation fuel supply is tiny compared to demand. The industry needs a scalable, drop-in replacement for fossil kerosene that works with existing engines, tanks, and pipelines — without requiring a complete overhaul of aviation infrastructure.

The solution

What was built

KEROGREEN built a container-sized demonstration unit that converts renewable electricity, water, and CO2 captured from air into aircraft-grade kerosene at a rate of 0.1 kg/hr. The system integrates plasma-driven CO2 splitting, solid oxide membrane oxygen separation, and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis into a single modular process chain, raising the technology from TRL 3 to TRL 4.

Audience

Who needs this

Airlines and aviation groups needing to meet sustainable fuel blending mandatesRenewable energy operators looking to monetise surplus or curtailed electricitySustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producers and refinersAirport fuel infrastructure companies planning for decarbonisationChemical companies seeking green CO feedstock

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Aviation & Airlines

enterprise

Target: Airlines and airport fuel suppliers looking to meet carbon-neutral mandates

If you are an airline or aviation fuel supplier struggling with tightening EU emissions regulations and ICAO carbon offset requirements — KEROGREEN developed a container-sized production unit that converts renewable electricity and captured CO2 into drop-in jet fuel at a projected premium of +50% over fossil kerosene. The fuel is sulphur-free and low-soot, helping you meet future air quality standards while using existing storage and distribution infrastructure.

Renewable Energy & Power-to-X

mid-size

Target: Wind farm and solar park operators seeking revenue from surplus electricity

If you are a renewable energy operator losing revenue when your turbines or panels produce more electricity than the grid can absorb — KEROGREEN demonstrated a modular system that converts that surplus power into carbon-neutral liquid fuel. The compact equipment can be co-located with an offshore wind turbine or remote solar array, turning curtailed electricity into a storable, transportable commodity without expensive grid infrastructure.

Chemical & Petrochemical

enterprise

Target: Industrial gas and chemical companies interested in green CO feedstock

If you are a chemical manufacturer needing carbon monoxide as a feedstock and want to decarbonise your supply — KEROGREEN's plasma-driven CO2 splitting process produces CO as an intermediate product. The technology is modular and scalable, and the on-site production offers inherent safety advantages, potentially replacing fossil-derived CO with a green alternative produced from captured CO2.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does the fuel cost compared to conventional jet fuel?

The project objective states projected costs at this stage of development are estimated at +50% over fossil kerosene prices. Market entrance is expected to be supported by the EU Emissions Trading System, airline CO2 compensation funds, and ICAO regulation, which would help close the price gap.

Can this scale to industrial production volumes?

KEROGREEN demonstrated a container-sized unit producing 0.1 kg/hr of kerosene. The technology is described as modular and scalable, designed to use inexpensive existing infrastructure for fuel storage, transport, and distribution. Scaling up would require additional engineering and investment beyond what was demonstrated in this project.

What is the intellectual property situation — can I license this technology?

The project involved 8 partners across 4 countries, with 5 industry partners including 5 SMEs. IP arrangements would be governed by the consortium agreement. Interested parties should contact the coordinator (STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN in the Netherlands) to discuss licensing options.

How mature is this technology — is it ready for deployment?

The project explicitly aimed to raise the technology readiness level from TRL 3 to TRL 4, meaning it moved from laboratory validation to component testing in a simulated environment. This is still several steps away from commercial deployment and would require further piloting and scale-up.

Does this fuel work with existing aircraft engines and infrastructure?

Yes — the kerosene produced is described as aircraft-grade and compatible with existing storage, transport, and distribution infrastructure. The fuel also meets future aviation air pollution standards because it emits less soot and no sulphur.

What regulatory support exists for this type of fuel?

The project objective references three regulatory drivers: the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), airline CO2 compensation funds, and ICAO regulation. These mechanisms are designed to make sustainable aviation fuels economically competitive against fossil alternatives.

Consortium

Who built it

The KEROGREEN consortium is well-balanced for a research-stage project, with 8 partners from 4 countries (Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Norway). The 62% industry ratio — with 5 out of 8 partners from industry, all classified as SMEs — signals strong commercial interest even at this early stage. The coordinator is the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), a major Dutch research institution, providing scientific credibility. The mix of 2 research organisations, 1 university, and 5 industrial SMEs suggests the consortium was built to bridge the gap between laboratory science and eventual commercial deployment, though the technology still needs significant scale-up beyond what this project achieved.

STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTENCoordinator · NL
VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V.participant · BE
CERAMIC POWDER TECHNOLOGY ASparticipant · NO
HYGEAR FUEL CELL SYSTEMS BVthirdparty · NL
HYGEAR BVparticipant · NL
KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIEparticipant · DE
HYGEAR TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES BVthirdparty · NL
INERATEC GMBHparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

The coordinator is STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN (Netherlands). SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the research team.

Order a report on this consortium See STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this Power-to-Liquid technology or connecting with the KEROGREEN team? Contact SciTransfer for a detailed briefing and warm introduction.

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