Vema and SAF+ partner on hydrogen-based sustainable aviation fuel production in Quebec

sustainablebiz.ca

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

Vema Hydrogen and SAF+ International Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore producing low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Quebec. Vema plans to extract natural hydrogen from iron-rich rocks in Thetford Mines using a catalytic process, targeting 5,000 to 10,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year by 2028. SAF+ would then combine that hydrogen with biogenic carbon dioxide to produce synthetic kerosene, aiming for 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes of fuel in the first year. The resulting SAF is expected to produce about 10 percent of the carbon emissions of conventional jet fuel. The partnership aims to create a replicable model for low-carbon aviation fuel production across North America and beyond. SAF+ already has offtake agreements with Air Transat and a letter of intent with Air France-KLM. The main barrier remains cost, with synthetic jet fuel currently three to five times more expensive than conventional fuel, meaning broader airline purchasing commitments will be key to scaling production.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see engineered mineral hydrogen moving toward a real offtake. The 5k to 10k tonnes per year is still small but if they can prove the catalytic extraction works at scale, it opens a new feedstock for SAF that doesn't rely on electrolysis.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The 2028 timeline for first hydrogen output is ambitious for a technology that hasn't been proven at commercial scale yet. Two pilot wells were drilled in February 2026. I'd want to see flow rates and consistency before assuming the ramp to thousands of tonnes.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The cost gap matters here. Synthetic SAF at 3-5x conventional fuel price needs either a carbon price high enough to close that spread or mandates like the EU's ReFuelEU. Without that, offtake agreements are nice but won't scale fast.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Quebec has cheap hydro electricity and a growing hydrogen strategy. If Vema can deliver natural hydrogen without large power draw, that's an advantage over green hydrogen routes for SAF. But the geology has to cooperate.

solar_winds_05·2 months ago·1 pts

The biogenic CO2 source is key. If they are pulling CO2 from a nearby industrial source like a cement plant or bioenergy facility, the carbon accounting gets cleaner. Article says 'ideally biogenic' which leaves some ambiguity.