Zurich-based aviation technology company Metafuels has raised $24 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate the scale-up of its synthetic sustainable aviation fuel platform. The capital will support development of demonstration and commercial facilities aimed at producing cost-competitive e-SAF for the global aviation market.

The round was led by UVC Partners, with participation from existing investors including Energy Impact Partners, Contrarian Ventures, RockCreek, Verve Ventures and Fortescue Ventures.

Addressing Aviation’s Fuel Challenge

Fuel combustion represents the majority of aviation’s direct emissions, placing sustainable aviation fuel at the centre of near- and medium-term decarbonisation strategies. While global SAF production nearly doubled in 2025, it accounted for only 0.6 percent of total airline fuel consumption, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Scaling SAF remains constrained by high production costs and limited feedstock availability, particularly for pathways dependent on waste oils and agricultural residues. These structural limitations have slowed adoption despite increasing regulatory mandates and airline commitments.

Metafuels is developing a synthetic pathway that converts captured carbon dioxide and green hydrogen into green methanol, which is then processed into jet fuel through a methanol-to-jet conversion technology. By relying on CO₂ and hydrogen rather than biological feedstocks, the company aims to bypass supply bottlenecks that affect conventional SAF production.

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From Demonstration to Industrial Scale

The new funding will support construction of a methanol-to-jet demonstration plant in Switzerland, serving as a validation step before full commercial deployment. Metafuels is also advancing plans for a large-scale e-SAF facility at the Port of Rotterdam, where its aerobrew product is expected to be produced at industrial volumes.

The Rotterdam project is positioned as the company’s first commercial-scale application, marking a transition from technology development to operational deployment. Access to port infrastructure and established energy logistics networks is expected to support integration into existing fuel supply chains.

Chief Executive Officer Saurabh Kapoor stated that methanol-to-jet technology offers a pathway for airlines to decarbonise without modifying aircraft or operational procedures, positioning synthetic fuel as a drop-in alternative compatible with current fleets.

Cost Competitiveness as a Strategic Objective

A central ambition of the company’s approach is long-term cost parity with fossil jet fuel. Synthetic fuels have historically struggled with price competitiveness due to the cost of green hydrogen and renewable electricity inputs. Metafuels’ strategy focuses on process efficiency and scalability to reduce production costs over time.

Investors highlighted the potential for the technology to materially lower SAF production costs, which remains one of the primary barriers to wider industry adoption. If successful at scale, synthetic pathways could diversify supply sources and increase global SAF availability.

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Market Context and Strategic Implications

As governments tighten aviation decarbonisation mandates and blending requirements, demand for scalable SAF solutions is expected to rise. Europe’s ReFuelEU Aviation framework and similar national policies are pushing fuel suppliers and airlines to secure long-term supply agreements.

Synthetic fuels produced from CO₂ and hydrogen are increasingly viewed as a complementary pathway alongside bio-based SAF. While capital-intensive, they offer the advantage of feedstock flexibility and the potential to integrate with carbon capture infrastructure.

Metafuels’ funding round signals continued investor appetite for advanced fuel technologies positioned at the intersection of clean hydrogen, carbon capture and aviation decarbonisation. The success of its demonstration and commercial projects will be closely watched as the sector seeks credible routes to scale sustainable aviation fuel beyond niche volumes.

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