Travel technology company Amadeus has purchased a stake in a German-based firm developing a new process to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other renewable fuels.
Madrid-based Amadeus said it had acquired a minority shareholding in Caphenia, which is working on a method to produce synthetic gas as an alternative feedstock for SAF.
The deal marks Amadeus’ second investment in a company focused on making travel more sustainable after taking a stake in emissions data specialist Chooose last year.
Caphenia has been working on creating a synthetic gas from a mixture of biogas, CO2, water and electricity, which could be used to produce a variety of renewable fuels.
The process has so far been “proved in laboratory conditions” and the company is looking to scale up production “in the near future”.
Mark Misselhorn, CEO of Caphenia, said: “Our process is affordable – using one sixth of the electricity needed for alternative SAF production methods – and scalable. We have an ambition to offer large scale production by 2028, aiming to fill the gap between anticipated SAF demand and current supply.”
Amadeus said the latest investment would give it “enhanced visibility into the challenges” of the SAF sector and allow it to “further explore the role” the company can play in helping the aviation industry move towards its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Suzanna Chiu, head of ventures at Amadeus, added: “We monitor industry trends and developments to determine the most effective ways we can fulfil this ambition and are delighted to act today with the investment in an innovative SAF company.
“The transaction represents a step forward in our sustainability strategy, taking the perspective from a different part of the value chain in the industry. As the industry moves toward its goal of reaching net zero by 2050, we are taking concrete steps to accelerate the process.”