Rolls-Royce SMR, a developer of small modular reactors, and the project development company Equilibrion have announced a memorandum of understanding to investigate the potential of producing sustainable aviation fuel using nuclear technology.
The partnership aims to assess whether nuclear-powered small modular reactors can support large-scale synthetic fuel production, vital for decarbonizing the aviation industry. SAF, primarily derived from waste oils and agricultural residues, has seen limited adoption despite its growing importance. In 2025, the fuel nearly doubled in production but still represented just 0.6% of total airline fuel consumption, hindered by high costs and feedstock challenges.
Technology and Impact
The collaboration plans to utilize Equilibrion’s proprietary Eq.flight modular system to produce e-SAF through power-to-liquids processes, using electricity and heat. Rolls-Royce will provide expertise in SMR technology to generate reliable, low-carbon electricity necessary for this process.
“Our SMR technology is designed to provide clean, affordable and dependable low-carbon energy, exactly the qualities required to unlock large-scale sustainable aviation fuel production,”
said Alan Woods, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Rolls-Royce SMR. “The assessment conducted with Equilibrion will demonstrate how nuclear energy can facilitate decarbonization efforts within aviation.”
The companies project that this approach could yield over 160 million liters of SAF annually per Rolls-Royce SMR unit, representing about one-third of the UK’s target to reach 3.5% of jet fuel supply from power-to-liquids SAF by 2040. Caroline Longman, Director at Equilibrion, highlighted the importance of scalable and reliable SAF to meet climate goals and noted that each facility could generate approximately 10,000 skilled jobs over its lifetime.
