At the heart of this initiative is the new SAF Miniplant—a research facility unique in Europe in both scale and capability. Spanning an entire university building, it enables researchers to simulate, compare and optimise multiple SAF production pathways under realistic conditions, identifying the most efficient and scalable solutions for industrial deployment.
Accelerating the Path to Climate-Neutral Aviation
Sustainable Aviation Fuels are considered a key lever for reducing the aviation sector’s carbon footprint, which currently accounts for around 2–3% of global CO₂ emissions. Depending on the production pathway, SAF can reduce emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle, making it one of the most viable near-term solutions for greener air travel. A major advantage: SAF is a “drop-in” fuel, meaning it can be used with existing aircraft, engines and airport infrastructure without modification, allowing immediate integration into current operations.
From Research to Industrial Scale
The Leoben facility is designed not only for experimentation, but for accelerating industrial implementation. By combining physical testing with advanced process simulation and machine learning, the Miniplant enables faster development cycles and reduces risks when scaling up production technologies. With total funding of €2.4 million, jointly provided by OMV and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure, the project exemplifies Austria’s strong collaboration between science, industry and public policy.
Strengthening Europe’s Energy and Innovation Landscape
By advancing SAF technologies, Austria is contributing to greater energy resilience, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and alignment with European initiatives such as ReFuelEU Aviation, which aims to make air transport climate-neutral by 2050. This initiative underlines Austria’s ability to deliver practical, scalable solutions in key future industries, combining research excellence with industrial know-how to drive the global energy transition.
