Siemens and the cleantech company CAPHENIA have entered a partnership to scale the production of sustainable aviation fuel/ SAF. SAF is a synthetic kerosene made from renewable feedstocks that can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil kerosene. As preferred automation and digitalisation partner, Siemens will provide digitalisation and automation solutions for CAPHENIA’s plasma technology, which converts biomethane into synthesis gas. The goal is a standardised concept that enables the global rollout of commercial production facilities.
CAPHENIA’s technology uses a plasma process to split biomethane into synthesis gas at temperatures of around 1500 degrees Celsius. CAPHENIA’s Plasma Boudouard Reactor/ PBR is a globally unique 3-in-1zone reactor that integrates three established chemical reactions in one system. The resulting synthesis gas can then be further processed into SAF, renewable diesel or chemical products, without by-products and with minimal energy losses.
A key advantage is that the heat released when cooling the synthesis gas is used to preheat the incoming biomethane. This results in a process efficiency of more than 86%, representing significantly higher energy efficiency than is possible with conventional methods.
“Decarbonising aviation cannot be achieved without synthetic fuels. Demand for SAF is growing exponentially, yet production capacity urgently needs to be ramped up,” said Christian Gückel, head of vertical chemicals at Siemens Digital Industries. “This is exactly where Siemens comes in. With our digitalisation and automation solutions, we are making CAPHENIA’s technology industrially scalable and accelerating its global market ramp-up.”
“This partnership shows how technology leaders are working together to drive forward the energy transition. Siemens brings the portfolio and expertise to standardise and digitalise our plants. However, the real point is that the market for sustainable aviation fuels will not grow evenly, it will fragment. Those who scale quickly, those who are industry-ready, and those who have the right partners will lead. Together, we are not only laying the foundation for the international ramp-up of our PBR technology, we want to lead it,” said Dr Mark Misselhorn, founder and chief executive officer of CAPHENIA.
Digitalisation as key to scaling
Under the agreement, Siemens becomes CAPHENIA’s preferred supplier and technology partner, offering comprehensive solutions from its Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, including process control systems, drive technology, measurement technology, and process simulation software. Digital twins will make it possible to optimise operating parameters before physical commissioning and to manage processes consistently across different sites.
Siemens is supporting CAPHENIA from its pilot plant at Höchst Industrial Park in Frankfurt, Germany through to commercial scale-up. The goal is to develop a standardised automation and digitalisation template for CAPHENIA’s PBR that is modularly scalable and can be adapted to different locations. This is intended to accelerate the rapid rollout of new plants in the coming years and significantly reduce commissioning time.
Growing demand for synthetic jet fuels
Demand for SAF is rising rapidly, driven by regulatory requirements. The EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) mandates binding blending quotas, with penalties for non-compliance. The scale of the challenge is enormous. By 2050, the global aviation industry will need around 500 million tons of SAF annually. Currently, SAF covers less than 1% of global kerosene demand. Efficient and scalable production technologies are essential to close this gap.
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