Summary:
- KLM and SkyNRG have marked the start of construction of the Netherlands’ first facility dedicated entirely to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.
- From 2028, the plant is expected to produce SAF at scale, with KLM committing to purchase 75,000 tons annually – 75% of the facility’s total output.
- The project represents a major step in expanding SAF production, supporting aviation decarbonisation and helping the Netherlands work towards its 2030 SAF blending targets.
KLM, together with SkyNRG, has marked the start of construction of the first facility in the Netherlands fully dedicated to the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This milestone officially kicks off construction of the plant, developed by SkyNRG, and represents an important step in scaling up SAF production in the Netherlands.
KLM was a co-founder of SkyNRG in 2009 and has been closely involved in developing the SAF market from the outset. Beginning in 2028, the plant is expected to produce its first volumes of SAF. KLM has committed to purchasing at least 75,000 tons annually – representing 75% of the plant’s total output – amounting to a sustainability commitment of nearly €3 billion. Through this commitment, KLM is playing a key role in enabling the project.
For many years, KLM has invested in making aviation cleaner, quieter, and more fuel-efficient. In addition to fleet renewal, SAF is one of the most effective ways to significantly reduce aviation’s CO₂ emissions. While SAF produces the same CO₂ emissions during flight as fossil kerosene, its total lifecycle emissions – from production to combustion – are significantly lower, reducing CO₂ by at least 65% and up to more than 90% compared to conventional kerosene.
“As the first airline in the world, our long-term offtake agreement directly contributes to the financing and realisation of this facility,” said Marjan Rintel, CEO, KLM. “Today, together with SkyNRG and other invited guests, we mark a milestone by celebrating the start of construction, making this project finally tangible. I am proud that KLM, as a co-founder of SkyNRG and the largest purchaser of the fuel, is taking an important step in scaling up SAF production in the Netherlands and further advancing the sustainability of aviation.”
SAF is currently three to four times more expensive than fossil kerosene. While this plant is an important milestone, further efforts are needed to accelerate production and make SAF more widely available and affordable. It is therefore encouraging that the new coalition agreement includes plans to expand alternative aviation fuels and support SAF production in the Netherlands. KLM calls on the government to work together to accelerate and scale up SAF, for example through a national SAF fund, as recommended in the Wennink report ‘The Route to Future Prosperity’. The DSL-01 project demonstrates what is possible, while also underlining the need for more initiatives like this to achieve the Dutch target of 14% SAF blending by 2030.
“Today’s milestone in Delfzijl shows that large-scale SAF production in the Netherlands is becoming a reality,” said Maarten van Dijk, CEO, SkyNRG. “We are proud to take this step together with KLM and our partners, whose long-term commitment has helped make this project possible. DSL-01 is an important step toward scaling SAF production and accelerating the transition to more sustainable aviation.”
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