Finnair is taking part in a new production pilot programme aimed at producing a ¡°synthetic¡± type of alternative aviation fuel.

The Nordic carrier is teaming up on the project with airport operator Finavia, specialist technology developer Liquid Sun and electrification expert ABB.

The initiative will use research from Finland¡¯s Tampere University to develop a process to convert CO2 emissions and renewable hydrogen into a synthetic form of what the airline industry calls sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

In a statement, the companies said that a pilot electro-fuel production unit in Espoo would be operation this autumn, with the aim of creating ¡°a functioning ecosystem and value chain for synthetic fuel production in Finland¡±. The country¡¯s forest industry alone generates 20 million tons of biogenic CO2 per year.

Riku Aho, vice president of energy transition at Finnair, said:?¡°Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise, and its energy transition will require new innovation and collaboration across the value chain.

¡°We want to contribute to developing Finland¡¯s capability in synthetic aviation fuel production while advancing the industry¡¯s carbon neutrality goals.¡±

Alternative aviation fuels can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent compared with traditional kerosene over the lifecycle of the fuel.

EU-based airlines are required to use at least 2 per cent SAF to fuel their flights this year under the bloc¡¯s blending mandate, which came into force at the start of the year. This requirement is scheduled to rise gradually in the coming years up to 70 per cent by 2050.

The mandate applies to airports with at least 800,000 passengers per year, which covers the Finnish airports of Helsinki and Rovaniemi.??

¡°As the owner of Finland¡¯s airports, we at Finavia want to do everything we can across the aviation value chain to support more sustainable air travel,¡± said Henri Hansson, SVP of airport infrastructure, sustainability, safety, security and compliance ?at Finavia

¡°This means bold climate collaboration with our stakeholders, and actively understanding and testing new technologies across our airport operations.¡±??