lux-Airport investing in the production of sustainable aviation fuel based on renewable energy by acquiring a shareholding in Norsk e-Fuel

François Bausch, Minister for Mobility and Public Works, together with René Steinhaus, President and CEO of lux-Airport, Richard Forson, President and CEO of Cargolux Airlines International, and Carl Berninghausen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Norsk e-Fuel, presented on 29 March 2022, lux-Airport's plan to invest in the production of sustainable aviation fuel based on renewable energy by acquiring part of the company Norsk e-Fuel.

©MMTP François Bausch with Tom Weisgerber, Government Advisor  at MMTP, President of lux-Airport, during the press conference
François Bausch with Tom Weisgerber, Government Advisor at MMTP, President of lux-Airport, during the press conference
  • After achieving the certification "carbon neutral" (level 3+) by ACI, lux-Airport expands its environmental engagement by investing in the production of e-Fuels, an important component of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), to fulfill the "Fit for 55" guidelines of the European Commission.
  • Norsk e-Fuel (NEF) is one of the leading companies in the development of e-Fuel production with its experienced shareholders and relevant patents.
  • It is well placed to develop and achieve the necessary scale of production of Power to Liquid (PtL), e-Fuel which is the optimum SAF in reducing CO2 emissions throughout the product lifecycle.

With this investment, lux-Airport joins the four partners: Sunfire, Climeworks, Valinor, and Paul Wurth, to drive the production of e-Fuels, the most sustainable type of SAF. Moreover, they can reduce life-cycle emissions by up to 99% compared to conventional fuels and do not compete with food security or land use.

Accelerated by the European Commission's "Fit for 55" proposal, which aims to reduce greenhouse gasses by 55% by 2030, lux-Airport will target its investments in projects, which support this initiative. The European Commission's target for the aviation industry is to substitute fossil fuels with a quota of 63% SAF. Included in the 63% is a requirement that 28% of the total fuel uplift in the EU are e-Fuels. Already by 2030, every EU airport with more than 1 million passengers or 100.000 t cargo per year is obliged to use 5% SAF and 0.7% e-Fuels of its total fuel consumption.

The first production facility of Norsk e-Fuel is planned in Mosjøen (Norway), providing the required amounts of renewable energy and necessary infrastructure. The start of production is planned for 2024. lux-Airport supports with its shareholding in Norsk e-Fuel the independent production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) from renewable electricity, air captured CO2 and water.

lux-Airport's investment in e-Fuel production underlines the strong commitment to supporting the targets for a climate-neutral aviation sector.

Contributing to the EU's "Fit for 55" goal is one of the key elements in lux-Airport's sustainability initiatives. The certification achieved by the airport with the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation program in March 2022, proves the results of joint efforts by the airport's major stakeholders. Projects such as the smart use of renewable electricity, optimization of heating, water use reduction including recovering de-icing water to reduce environmental impacts, implementing green spaces to increase biodiversity, investment in smart LED lighting, use of electric vehicles, reinforcing waste sorting and recycling all contribute to a more sustainable airport operation.

Press release by the Ministry for Mobility and Public Works

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