EcoCeres launches Chinese SAF pilot
In China, EcoCeres Inc. has launched a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pilot program in China, codenamed “Project Spark”, together with The Second Research Institute of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CASRI), China National Aviation Fuel Group (CNAF), China Southern Airlines, Air China Cargo, Sichuan Airlines, and Huarong Chemical, completing a closed loop SAF green value chain. This milestone marks a major breakthrough in the decarbonisation of China’s aviation sector and represents a significant step forward in the country’s independent sustainability certification and environmental credit framework for SAF.
On March 16, SAF produced at EcoCeres’ Zhangjiagang facility and blended by CNAF was used to refuel multiple commercial flights at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The initiative also enabled the compliant transfer of environmental credits via AnchorTrace, a Scope 3 SAF environmental credit registration and retirement platform jointly developed by CNAF and CASRI.
This collaboration sets an important benchmark for China’s emerging SAF market and establishes a practical model for wider deployment across the country’s aviation system. Key milestones include:
Pilot implementation of China’s independent SAF sustainability certification system.
Pilot application of Anchor Trace to transfer Scope 1 emissions to airlines and Scope 3 emissions to corporate customers.
Pilot conversion of SAF-related green premiums into low-carbon investments jointly borne by multiple stakeholders, helping to overcome bottlenecks to the large-scale deployment of green aviation fuel.
Category: Fuels
