EcoCeres, a company specializing in waste-to-fuel technology, has collaborated with China’s civil aviation industry to initiate a pilot project for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Named Project Spark, this initiative involves key industry partners including The Second Research Institute of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CASRI), China National Aviation Fuel Group (CNAF), and major airlines such as China Southern Airlines, Air China Cargo, and Sichuan Airlines. The project aims to establish a closed-loop green SAF value chain that promotes decarbonisation in China’s aviation sector.
On March 16, SAF produced at EcoCeres’ Zhangjiagang facility and blended by CNAF was successfully used to refuel passenger flights at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, a major hub in western China. This operation also integrated environmental credits via the AnchorTrace platform, facilitating sustainable certification and credit transfer aligned with China’s environmental policies.
Advancing Sustainable Aviation in China
Matt Lievonen, CEO of EcoCeres, remarked, “Launching this SAF pilot programme with influential partners reflects our commitment to turning climate ambitions into tangible actions. Combining advanced waste-to-fuel processes with extensive industry expertise, we are paving the way for low-carbon aviation fuels in China.”
EcoCeres’ SAF is sourced from waste and residue feedstocks, offering up to 90% reductions in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional jet fuels. The structure of the project demonstrates that SAF can be adopted within existing fuel infrastructure without compromising safety or operational efficiency.
Beyond China, EcoCeres’ SAF is supplied to international carriers such as Air New Zealand, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas, positioning the company as a prominent partner in decarbonising aviation across Asia-Pacific and Europe.
