In this episode of The SAF Podcast, Oscar is joined by Nico Nicholas, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeero Group, for a discussion on the commercial and strategic realities of scaling the Hydrothermal Liquefaction SAF pathway. The conversation goes beyond the technical basics to look at how waste-to-fuel projects are financed, how they can be tailored to local infrastructure needs, and why collaboration across sectors may be essential if SAF is to scale at pace.

We dive into a variety of topics including:

• How ZEERO Group is approaching project development, with each facility structured around local waste streams, local infrastructure and location-specific business models
• Why combining waste management and fuel production could create a stronger commercial case for SAF-linked projects
• The financing logic behind these developments, including co-investment models, strategic partners and government-backed support mechanisms
• Why investor confidence and proof of delivery remain critical for emerging pathways looking to move from concept to commercial scale
• The role of certification timelines and regulatory processes in shaping how quickly new SAF pathways can enter the market
• Why scaling SAF may require much deeper collaboration between aviation, municipalities, tourism, shipping and energy stakeholders

This discussion picks up on some key themes from across the SAF industry so is well worth a listen if you are part of the growing ecosystem that is going o make commercial SAF production a global success. We also almost manage to go the whole episode without a crude joke/pun...almost!

We are also currently accepting applications for the SAF Investor Deal of the Year awards. If you have been involved in a financing deal in the last year, we would love to hear about it. You can find the application form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwrzV8VN8oqA6c-e0GMlgZmttTQ-U-1D9XxnOgeeQV-ITeiQ/viewform