ZURICH – Swiss renewable energy investor Smartenergy said on Tuesday it has signed a strategic offtake agreement with Q8 Aviation, the international aviation energy arm of Kuwait Petroleum International, to supply synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF).
The deal makes Q8 Aviation a cornerstone long-term buyer of Smartenergy’s planned eSAF production, which is designed to help airlines and fuel providers meet tightening European and UK mandates on low-carbon fuels.
“This is more than just a commercial agreement – it’s a shared commitment to reshaping the future of aviation,” Horst H. Mahmoudi, chairman and CEO of Smartenergy, said in a statement.
Q8 Aviation will secure access to a share of future eSAF output, helping the company supply carriers seeking to cut emissions and comply with Europe’s REFuelEU and UK SAF rules. The fuel, made from green hydrogen and captured biogenic CO₂, can be blended directly into existing aircraft and infrastructure, delivering more than 90% lifecycle emissions reductions compared with conventional jet fuel, Smartenergy said.
The partnership will initially focus on Smartenergy’s two flagship projects in Portugal – Project Galileu and Project Leça – which are being developed to meet EU standards for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) under the bloc’s RED III guidelines.
Q8 Aviation, which supplies more than 60 international airports, said the agreement underscores its role in scaling up sustainable fuel adoption across the industry.
Smartenergy and Q8 Aviation have signed a strategic agreement to supply synthetic sustainable aviation fuel, aiming to reshape the future of aviation. The deal supports compliance with European and UK low-carbon mandates, offering over 90% emissions reduction. Q8 Aviation will access future eSAF output, enhancing its role in sustainable fuel adoption across the industry.