Metafuels, a Zurich-based aviation technology company developing proprietary sustainable fuel technologies, has secured grant funding from the Dutch government to fuel its e-SAF project in Rotterdam.
Metafuels’ Dutch subsidiary, Metafuels Nederland B.V., has received a €1.92 million grant from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). This funding, provided through the TSE Industry Studies – Hydrogen & Green Chemistry programme (GroenvermogenNL), supports the ongoing development of its Turbe synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) project in the Port of Rotterdam. RVO is a government agency which is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. It helps entrepreneurs and organisations to invest, develop and expand their businesses and projects both in the Netherlands and abroad.
“Securing this support from RVO is a strong validation of both our technology and our approach to scaling e-SAF production, and the merits of the Turbe project. Rotterdam is one of Europe’s most important energy and industrial hubs, and an ideal location to deliver large-scale synthetic fuel projects. This grant enables us to accelerate Turbe towards FID and make commercial e-SAF production in Europe a reality,” said Saurabh Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer of Metafuels.
Founded in 2021 by Kapoor, Leigh Hackett, and Ulrich Koss, Metafuels believes that SAF is the most viable way to decarbonise aviation and achieve the sector’s emission targets. The company’s proprietary methanol-to-jet technology, aerobrew, converts renewable methanol into jet fuel with ultra-high carbon efficiency. The company notes that its fuels are fully compatible with existing aircraft and airport infrastructure,
The Swiss startup states that, unlike traditional SAF methods depending on limited feedstocks like waste oils, methanol-based e-SAF provides a highly scalable solution to satisfy long-term aviation needs. When generated with renewable electricity, green hydrogen, and captured carbon, it can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 90% compared to fossil kerosene.
Metafuels claims that this grant comes at a pivotal moment for Metafuels as it transitions from technology development to commercial-scale deployment. According to the company, the grant will support critical project development activities through to final investment decision (FID), including front-end engineering and design (FEED), permitting and consents, and commercial development.
“The award recognises the strength of Metafuels’ proprietary methanol-to-jet technology, aerobrew, and its potential to deliver scalable, cost-competitive e-SAF aligned with Dutch and European climate objectives,” Metafuels mentioned in the press release.
Metafuels Nederland B.V. is the Dutch subsidiary of Metafuels and is developing the Turbe project. Turbe will serve as Metafuels’ inaugural commercial deployment of its aerobrew technology and will act as a model for future large-scale facilities. The project aims to begin production from 2030 onwards, aligning with the implementation of e-SAF sub-mandates under ReFuelEU Aviation.
The company states that, at Evos Rotterdam, the project benefits from established methanol infrastructure, multimodal logistics, and a highly skilled industrial workforce.
Some of its recent milestones include a €20.7 million ($24 million) funding round led by UVC Partners, which it announced earlier this year. In December 2025, it awarded a contract to McDermott for front-end engineering and design (FEED) of its Turbe project. It also installed its methanol-to-jet demonstration plant at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland, now preparing for operation. The company is expanding its European project footprint, including development activities in the Netherlands and Denmark.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2026/04/swiss-aviationtech-startup-metafuels-secures-e1-92-million-dutch-grant-to-boost-rotterdam-e-saf-project/
