Solarig has announced the development of a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility named Turboleta SAF in the Platea industrial park in Teruel, Spain.
With an investment of €1.15bn ($1.19bn), the project includes the construction of renewable energy assets directly linked to the SAF production plant, including a solar photovoltaic plant, a wind farm, and a battery energy storage system.
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This plant is expected to produce more than 75,00tpa of SAF, which could supply the equivalent of 33,000 flights between Zaragoza and London based on a 50% SAF blend.
The project is a response to the call for decarbonisation highlighted at COP29, with the aviation sector contributing nearly 14% of global transportation-related CO₂ emissions.
Construction on the project is scheduled to commence in 2027 and it is expected to become operational before 2030.
The project is anticipated to reduce 340,000tpa of CO₂ emissions and will capture and utilise 160,000tpa of CO₂.
The facility is expected to create close to 1,200 skilled jobs, with 1,000 during the construction phase and more than 180 once operational, thereby boosting local economic development and utilising existing infrastructure.
The airports of Teruel and Zaragoza will benefit from the proximity to the SAF production, supporting the decarbonisation of air transport and promoting regional industrial growth.
Solarig chairman and CEO Miguel Ángel Calleja said: “This new facility places Teruel at the forefront of sustainable fuel production. It leverages the region’s natural resources, such as sun, wind, and water, as well as biogas and biogenic CO₂ from our facilities, derived from agro-livestock waste in the area.
“This project, supported by national, regional, and local public entities and leading companies in the aviation sector, is part of our Spanish portfolio, which exceeds 400,000tpa of SAF.”
This initiative aligns with Europe’s climate objectives, aiming to bolster the large-scale production and utilisation of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.
Solarig has submitted the Turboleta SAF project to the Incentive Programme for Renewable Hydrogen Production and Consumption Projects (Clusters or Valleys) spearheaded by the Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving (IDAE) to obtain financial support from the Next Generation EU funds.
