Metafuels funding news – Switzerland-based Metafuels Secures $5 Million in Funding

The funds will contribute to the implementation and operation of a pilot facility based on Metafuels’ sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) technology, aerobrew, which is being developed in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, Switzerland’s largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences.

Set to be the country’s first such plant, the facility will be installed at the PSI campus in Villigen AG and will focus on demonstrating groundbreaking sustainable aviation fuel technology for large-scale commercial deployment.

Metafuels, along with technology development partner PSI, have secured the grant funding under the Pilot & Demonstration (P&D) programme, on account of the highly innovative nature of their technology and close alignment with the key objectives of the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050.

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The timing is crucial, as the decarbonization of aviation emerges as one of the greatest technological challenges. While current alternatives such as electrification and hydrogen remain years away from widespread adoption, especially for long-haul flights due to logistical and design hurdles, sustainable aviation fuel emerges as a viable drop-in replacement for conventional kerosene.

Metafuels focuses on sustainable aviation fuel made using renewable electricity (e-SAF)—a further environmentally-refined version of what has emerged as the leading long-term strategy to decarbonize air travel. It does not require the re-engineering or re-purchase of aircraft—nor a redesign of the underlying fueling infrastructure which supports both commercial and cargo airlines, route planning, and the existing customer experience, all of which make it an attractive and versatile option.

Saurabh Kapoor, CEO and co-founder at Metafuels, says: “International business travel – powered by aviation – as well as the exporting of key Swiss goods – represent a significant proportion of the Swiss economy, and a key challenge to overcome in decarbonising the Swiss economy. Two of our major airports, Zurich and Geneva, are both international transportation hubs connecting passengers East to West, and across Europe – so decarbonising our aviation industry will also play a role in the mission to decarbonise the global economy. We are proud to secure this grant, not only for the important work it will fund to bring our technology to life – but what it represents, placing us at the heart of an increasingly innovative, start-up oriented Swiss economy.”

Marco Ranocchiari, head of the ESI platform at PSI said, “Thanks to our expertise in both basic research and engineering sciences, as well as our many years of experience in the development and operation of such large-scale systems, our collaboration with Metafuels will accelerate the implementation of this novel technology for the decarbonization of the aviation industry.”

About Metafuels

Metafuels is a Zurich-based aviation tech startup, focused on the development and deployment of proprietary sustainable fuel technologies, with an initial focus on synthetic aviation fuel. Metafuels is positioned to address one of the most challenging areas of decarbonization, with the aviation industry responsible for up to 3.5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

About PSI

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI develops, builds and operates large, complex research facilities and makes them available to the national and international research community. The institute’s own key research priorities are in the fields of future technologies, energy and climate, health innovation and fundamentals of nature. PSI is committed to the training of future generations.