The SAF Podcast

On this week's episode of The SAF Podcast Chris Hancock, Avioxx joins Oscar to share their waste-to-fuel technology and their UK project development strategy. 

Chris begins by sharing his journey from fintech entrepreneur to cleantech innovator, explaining some of the parallels between the early days of fintech and today's nascent SAF industry.

We also dive into Avioxx's off-grid approach integrating Fischer-Tropsch reactors with solid oxide fuel cells, enabling the plant to generate its own electricity and potentially achieve an 80% reduction in electricity costs. The result aims to tackle the two hardest cost drivers in SAF—purchased power and hydrogen balance—while building a real circular economy around waste.

Integrating AI and digital infrastructure is a fulcrum of Avioxx's expansion to accelerate design timelines, reduce costs, and mitigate risks. Chris explains how this feeds into their UK focused expansion plans from a small scale demonstrator, to a mid-scale plant producing 5,000 tonnes per year, up to a 32,000 tonne per year facility consuming 300,000 tonnes of waste each year.

We finish by discussing capital raising, the pre-seed investment from Trailfinders and the current ongoing raise for their Series A-B rounds. Chris explains the types of capital they are looking to attract in the balancing of equity and senior debt. 

Check out the full episode to find out more on whatever site you prefer to frequent. 

In this episode of The SAF Podcast, host Oscar Henderson sits down with Hamid, Francis and Sergio from Nexen Biosystems to explore one of the most unconventional and interesting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstocks emerging today: tequila bagasse.

With what seems like every celebrity wanting to start a tequila brand. The market over recent years has boomed, creating an abundant amount of year round feedstock.  Tequila production is tightly concentrated by denomination rules, so residues are steady, local, and available at favorable terms because they’re a disposal headache for distillers. Agave bagasse is pre-cooked and pressed during tequila making, which can reduce pre-treatment intensity compared to raw crop waste.

We dig into Nexen's strategy: 18 months of R&D at a Canadian lab to tune pre-treatment and conversion steps, followed by a Mexico-based pilot to validate logistics, contracts, and costs at scale. Along the way we talk policy reality—strong Canadian support for clean-tech research, Mexico’s push to manage tequila waste and align with global SAF goals.

We also discuss the challenge of raising capital in the R&D stage before building a demonstration and pilot plants. Finding investors that are comfortable with the risk profile all aspects of developing a SAF facility is crucial for Nexen as investors bring much more to the table than just capital. 

Sit back, grab a tequila (think of the feedstock) and listen to this episode and find out about the potential of tequila bagasse as a feedstock and how Nexen are planning on utilizing it for SAF production. 

In this episode of The SAF Podcast, host Oscar Henderson welcomes back Gorka Penalva, Exolum, to discuss the company’s latest milestone — the launch of its new SAF blending facility at Redcliffe Bay in the UK. Gorka shares how Exolum is transforming its legacy fuel infrastructure to support a low-carbon future and reveals the vision behind what they’re calling the “SAF Superhighway.”

Exolum is taking bold steps forward in the SAF market, moving beyond the traditional wait-and-see approach that has characterized much of the industry. As an independent storage company operating over 2,000 kilometers of pipeline infrastructure that handles 40% of the UK's jet fuel, they're uniquely positioned to accelerate SAF adoption. Their decision to self-finance the Redcliffe Bay blending facility demonstrates a proactive approach to building the infrastructure needed to meet growing demand and regulatory mandates.

This episode delves into the practical challenges of adapting post-war infrastructure for modern sustainable fuel blending, the benefits of pipeline transportation versus road transport for both emissions and cost, and the critical role of both national and local government support in developing SAF infrastructure. Gorka shares insights on Exolum's year-long development process, their plans to expand blending facilities across multiple UK import locations, and how they're leveraging experience from their operations in Spain, Amsterdam, and Germany.

Gorka explains why the team chose internal financing to accelerate timelines, how a two-year concept-to-commission journey unfolded, and where the “SAF superhighway” goes next.

Policy and logistics converge here. National mandates frame the destination, while local leaders help clear the path. We discuss why both levels of government matter, what reliable imports mean for producers, and how pipelines can cut emissions and reduce congestion versus road transport. This equates to nearly 200,000 trucks. Nose to tail that would be enough to stretch the entire coastline of Great Britain.

 Looking ahead 12–24 months, Exolum is mapping additional blending sites, aligning with import corridors, and engaging stakeholders, with external capital on the table for future phases. If you care about scaling SAF supply, reducing logistics emissions, and giving airports dependable access to blended fuel, this conversation lays out a grounded plan to get there.

If you want more of the back story on Exolum, listen to our first episode from earlier in the year here: https://www.safinvestor.com/podcast/146997/the-saf-podcast-exolum-throwing-saf-a-pipeline/

In this episode of The SAF Podcast, Diana Birkett Rakow, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Alaska Airlines and incoming CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, joins Oscar for a deep dive into how the airlines are shaping their SAF strategy and how it plays into overall emissions reductions ambitions. 

We dig into Alaska’s five-part path to net zero by 2040—operational efficiency, fleet renewal, SAF, new propulsion and airframes, and only then high-quality removals—and why the middle lever, sustainable aviation fuel, is the one that can move emissions at scale this decade.

We also discuss how potentially the role of the airline in scaling SAF is changing, traditional offtakes alone won’t unlock the market. Agreements with Neste, World Energy, Cosmo Oil and Philips 66 get molecules of SAF into the ring, but are not having the desired fly wheel effect of indicating the level of demand to scale production. 

Diana highlights the real change will come from building deep partnerships with early stage producers developing new technologies, such as Twelve and AIRCO alongside investments from their Alaska Star Ventures investment arm.  

This has been expanded with the new $150 million fund launched with Breakthrough Energy Ventures and oneworld Alliance partners, designed to identify and scale next-generation SAF technologies. With deep technical expertise and a global lens, the fund targets pathways that can scale, hit strong carbon intensity scores, and compete on cost

We also look at the more regional scale work being done in Hawaii with the Par Hawaii. There is a real drive to build out renewable energy security highlighted by the  $90 million investment in renewable fuel production and trials of camelina as a locally-grown feedstock.

Hot off the heels of their public announcement, Mel Courtney, Catagen is the latest guest on The SAF Podcast. 

We discuss the spinning out of Catagen ClimaHtech Green Flight, utilizing the technology honed in the 15 years of emissions testing, for their modular sustainable aviation fuel facilities through electrified reverse water gas shift Fischer-Tropsch. 

Unlike conventional centralized refineries, their modular approach produces between one and ten million liters of neat SAF annually, designed to co-locate with existing renewable energy infrastructure. This strategy unlocks untapped potential from smaller wind farms across the UK and Europe that typically go underutilized by large-scale industrial operations.

We break down Catagen's financing strategy. Government grants helped reach TRL 7. Currently they are engaged in a SAFE note equity raise before opening up to a pre-FID £18m equity round. This is followed by a planned project investment bringing the total to £60m.

This small amount of investment compared to large centralised facilities is one of the benefits Mel highlights of the modular strategy. Others include the ability to co-locate with renewable energy infrastructure, feedstocks or airports offering great operational flexibility. 

We touch on the recent off take announcements from the launch with Ryanair and Shell Aviation Ireland, emphasising how modular SAF facilities can suit airline economics for regional carriers. 

If listening to the facility description wasn't enough you can see it via the link here: https://climahtechgreenflight.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025.08.07_catagen_digital_launch_v4_subtitled-540p.mp4 

This week on The SAF Podcast Kata Cserep and Salem Esber, PA Consulting join Oscar to discuss the recent Cacophony to Symphony: Successfully Scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuel report. 

With nearly 600 survey participants spanning airlines, airports, fuel producers, investors, and policymakers, the report reveals critical challenges in scaling SAF—most notably fragmentation across the ecosystem, cost barriers, and policy misalignment. Kata, an aviation strategist, and Salem, an energy and finance specialist, bring complementary perspectives on how aviation and energy must converge to unlock commercial-scale SAF.

The conversation emphasizes that while no single stakeholder has solved the SAF scaling challenge, there's significant optimism and willingness to collaborate across the ecosystem. We discuss the belief blame graph to stress the importance of looking beyond individual niches to find cross-sector solutions, highlighting emerging innovations in project structures, risk allocation, and demand aggregation that could accelerate sustainable aviation fuel adoption globally.

Key topics include regional policy differences between the US and UK approaches, with the UK taking a more collaborative industry consultation model while US policy appears more fragmented and uncertain. We discuss innovative financing structures, the role of major airlines with strong balance sheets in driving early adoption, and the development of PA Consulting's cost of decarbonization tool that helps airlines calculate long-term financial impacts.

You can read the full report via the link here to see the insight in literary and pictoral forms: https://www.paconsulting.com/industries/transport/aviation/scaling-sustainable-aviation-fuel

This week Matti Lievonen, EcoCeres joins Oscar on The SAF Podcast. Matti shares insights from his illustrious career from the transition from traditional refining at Neste to pioneering renewable fuel production in the rapidly expanding Asian SAF market.

The conversation reveals the company's innovative approach to feedstock traceability, managing relationships with over 100,000 restaurants for used cooking oil collection, and their breakthrough "easy tracer" technology that tracks feedstock origins down to individual 30-kilogram contributions.

This startup mentality, backed by significant investment from Bain Capital, has enabled rapid expansion with facilities in China and Malaysia collectively producing over 700,000 tons annually.

The discussion explores critical industry challenges including feedstock security, the potential impact of China's anticipated SAF mandates in their upcoming five-year plan, and the complex dynamics between regional production and global supply chains. Lievonen addresses the tension between Europe's preference for local production versus Asia's capacity for large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing and export.

Key topics include strategic partnerships with airlines like British Airways, the role of private equity investment from Bain Capital and Kerogen Capital, and the urgent need for policy harmonization across regions to accelerate SAF adoption. Lievonen also discusses consumer education challenges, cost reduction strategies through novel feedstock development, and the collaborative ecosystem approach needed to achieve aviation's 2050 decarbonization targets.

Despite current cost barriers, Lievenen remains optimistic about SAF's future: "If you think about the time track, SAF has been now like five years old. If you think about fossil fuel, it's 100 years old. So we have time, and I'm sure we could find a way to make SAF very competitive but also well-used." Through collaboration across airlines, suppliers, and governments, the vision of truly sustainable aviation feels increasingly within reach.

This week on The SAF Podcast we turn both eyes and ears to Asia with the three founders of the Asian SAF Association, Fabrice Espinosa, Gabriel Ho and Dietmar Posselt. Covering 48 vastly differing countries from the Middle East across to APAC, ASAFA aim is to promote production levels to decarbonise the regions growing aviation footprint.

Rather than waiting for perfect policy frameworks, Asian countries are taking practical steps forward, setting achievable targets that create immediate momentum. This cultural pragmatism, coupled with abundant feedstock resources and growing refining capacity, positions Asia to potentially leapfrog other regions in sustainable aviation development.

The conversation explores the unique challenges of Asia's diverse landscape - from feedstock traceability issues to financing innovative technologies. While mature HEFA processes using waste oils are gaining substantial investment, newer pathways utilizing regional resources like cassava-based ethanol and agricultural waste require additional support. The founders detail how they're working to mobilize capital through partnerships with development banks and create harmonized standards that could eventually unify the region's approach.

Southeast Asia emerges as a particular hotspot, with Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam all developing significant production capacity that could contribute over 2 million tons of SAF within 5-8 years. Meanwhile, India's renewed focus on biofuels and ethanol production signals another major growth area. These developments are supported by a wave of national policies, with Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Korea all set to announce SAF targets or mandates.

Anyone involved in SAF globally has one eye on Asia, so check out the full discussion to find out in detail the updates and trends across the region. 

SAF Investor New York is in two weeks on the 23rd September, it is still not too late to join us, so don't miss out and book your place here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0mv63z0

Ever wondered what MI6 was evaluating after World War II that could help solve our aviation climate crisis today? The answer lies in a century-old technology that's experiencing a remarkable revival.

Peter-Paul Langerak of Gidara Energy joins us this week to take us through the evolution of High Temperature Winkler (HTW) gasification technology – from its 1920s origins through its refinement during WWII to its commercial deployment in the 1990s producing biomethanol from waste. Now owned by Gidara Energy, this technology offers a proven solution for converting municipal waste, biomass, and agricultural residues into clean syngas that can become sustainable aviation fuel.

What sets this approach apart is its commercial readiness. While much attention focuses on early-stage technologies, HTW gasification has already operated at scale, processing 500-1,000 tons of waste daily into valuable products. This sweet spot balances economic viability with practical feedstock logistics – smaller plants struggle financially while larger ones face insurmountable waste collection challenges.

Peter-Paul discusses the challenges of scaling projects, particularly feedstock logistics, permitting, and financing, and highlights how Gidara works with project developers and investors to bring projects from concept to final investment decision (FID).

The conversation shifts to Gidara's strategic pivot toward technology licensing, driven by urgent market demand for alternative SAF pathways as HVO/HEFA production approaches feedstock limitations by 2030. This urgency catalyzed the formation of the SAF Technology Alliance – a groundbreaking partnership between Gidara Energy, Samsung E&A, Johnson Matthey, and UOP Honeywell offering integrated, turnkey solutions from waste to wing.

Listen to the end to find out what Peter-Paul considers to be the biggest industry misconceptions when it comes to SAF technology licensing. 

Ready to connect with the innovators and investors making sustainable aviation a reality? Join us September 23rd in New York for an exclusive industry gathering where you'll meet the people and technologies driving us toward our 2050 targets. Find out more here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0mv63z0

In this episode of The SAF Podcast, David Lloyd from Emerging Fuel Technology joins Oscar to discuss sustainable aviation fuel production, biogas feedstocks, and the challenges of scaling renewable fuel projects. Lloyd, a former airline strategy executive turned SAF technology entrepreneur, shares his transition from Qantas to the emerging fuels sector and explains why biogas represents an untapped opportunity in sustainable aviation fuel production.

The conversation explores Fischer-Tropsch technology's century-long history, from World War Two applications to its modern applications in renewable fuel production. Lloyd argues that biogas and renewable natural gas offer significant advantages over traditional SAF feedstocks, potentially providing 30% of US jet fuel supply from existing landfills alone. He challenges conventional thinking about project scale, advocating for smaller, replicable facilities rather than massive billion-dollar plants that face lengthy development cycles and higher risks.

Key topics include the economics of different SAF pathways, the role of government mandates versus subsidies in driving adoption, and why the "green premium" terminology may need revision. Lloyd discusses power-to-liquid fuels, comparing eSAF production costs with biosynthetic alternatives, and examines how renewable natural gas infrastructure creates opportunities for distributed SAF production.

The episode addresses critical industry challenges including capital expenditure optimization, investor expectations, and the technology valley of death that many startups face. Lloyd's insights on replicating successful models from the ethanol industry provide valuable perspectives on scaling sustainable aviation fuel production efficiently while managing financial and technical risks in the rapidly evolving clean energy sector.

If you enjoy this join us for SAF Investor New York on 23rd September as part of New York Climate Week. Find out more here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0mv63z0