Danish company chosen as technology supplier for SAF megaproject in China

Topsoe, a global leader in energy transition technologies, has been selected by Zhejiang Jianglan Bio-Energy Technology Co. Ltd., a company of the Jianglan Energy Group conglomerate, as the official technology and service provider for one of the most ambitious Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) projects in China. With construction scheduled to begin in September 2025 and operations scheduled for December 2026, the plant located in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, will be capable of producing 300,000 tons of SAF per year, with an initial focus on exports to the European market.

The project will use Topsoe’s proprietary HydroFlex® technology, as well as its catalysts, licensing and technical expertise. The solution enables the transformation of a wide range of raw materials – such as oils, fats and organic waste – into renewable fuels that comply with stringent global aviation standards. The initiative is in line with the growing pressure to decarbonize the aviation sector and, according to projections, could avoid up to 698,000 tons of CO₂e emissions annually, the equivalent of two million passengers flying between Beijing and Copenhagen.

SAF on the rise: climate geopolitics and Chinese industrial innovation

The selection of Topsoe consolidates its strategic position as a key supplier in the emerging SAF market, a sector whose global production is expected to double by 2025, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The goal is clear: according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero Scenario, by 2030 SAF needs to represent at least 10% of all fuel used by global aviation. In this context, the Sino-European alliance signals a transformation in the industrial balance of the energy transition, with China positioning itself not only as a consumer but also as a producer of high-value-added clean energy for export.

Jianglan Energy Group, the parent company of Zhejiang Jianglan, acts as a vector for this transformation. With a portfolio that ranges from waste incineration to the reuse of cooking oils and R&D in bioenergy, the group is accelerating the implementation of a green circular economy and leading the implementation of climate targets known as "dual carbon" (peak emissions and neutrality by mid-century).

By combining cutting-edge European technology with Asian industrial scale, the project in Zhoushan represents more than an investment: it is a clear sign of convergence between innovation, international regulation and new global energy paradigms. With this, SAF is no longer just a promise but a concrete pillar of the aviation of the future.