Can Landfill Methane Solve Aviation's SAF Supply Crisis? Korean Pilot Plant Succeeds.

A pilot plant in South Korea has successfully converted landfill gas into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This breakthrough demonstrates a new circular pathway for aviation decarbonization. The technology uses methane-rich gases from decomposing organic waste. This offers a potentially abundant and cost-effective feedstock source.

Technical Breakthrough and Production

The project was led by the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT). They collaborated with local firm EN2CORE Technology. The integrated pilot facility is located at a landfill site in Dalseong-gun, Daegu.

The Conversion Process

Researchers developed a full processing chain for the conversion. First, landfill gas undergoes purification and carbon dioxide reduction. This is achieved using membrane separation technology. Next, the purified gas is converted into synthesis gas (syngas). This step uses EN2CORE Technology's proprietary plasma reforming reactor. Finally, KRICT employs the catalytic Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. This converts the gaseous syngas into liquid hydrocarbons suitable for jet fuel.

The facility successfully produced 100 kg of sustainable aviation fuel per day. This validates the technical feasibility beyond the laboratory setting.

Industry Impact and Decentralization

This development is critical for the global aviation decarbonization goals. The industry needs massive amounts of SAF to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates 449 billion liters of SAF will be required annually. Current SAF production is extremely limited.

• Feedstock Advantage: The current SAF market relies heavily on used cooking oil (UCO). UCO supply is limited and competes with biodiesel production. Landfill gas is a more plentiful and inexpensive alternative feedstock.
• Decentralized Production: The small scale of the pilot plant is a major advantage. The facility is about 100 square meters in size. This approach could enable smaller, decentralized SAF production facilities. These could be located directly at landfills or waste-treatment plants. This moves away from relying solely on large, centralized refineries.

Regulatory Context and Future Outlook

South Korea is actively pursuing a domestic SAF industry. The government is developing a roadmap for a South Korea SAF mandate. This mandate will require a 1% SAF blend for international flights starting in 2027. The blend mandate is set to increase to 7–10% by 2035. This regulatory push increases the need for new, scalable SAF sources.

Scaling up production remains the main challenge for the aviation sector. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and other regulators must approve new SAF pathways. The Korean team is now focused on optimizing long-term operations. They plan for full-scale commercialization of this waste-based fuel supply by 2030. This successful pilot offers a promising circular pathway for aviation to meet its ambitious climate targets.

Key Risks and Opportunities:

• Opportunity: Converting landfill methane reduces a potent greenhouse gas while creating high-value jet fuel.
• Risk: High production costs of SAF, compared to traditional jet fuel, could still be a barrier to rapid adoption.
• Opportunity: The landfill gas conversion process is a significant step in diversifying SAF feedstock beyond biomass.

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