OMV supports Europe’s unique research infrastructure for sustainable aviation fuels at the Technical University of Leoben

• Together with the Technical University of Leoben, OMV is driving the decarbonization of air travel
• The unique research infrastructure facilitates the realistic comparison of various production processes for sustainable aviation fuels
• By using process simulation and machine learning, this partnership is accelerating the industrialization of SAF technologies “Made in Austria” 

Together with the Technical University of Leoben, OMV is driving the decarbonization of air travel. A one-of-a-kind research facility in Europe has been established at the Chair of Process Technology and Industrial Environmental Protection, where various process routes to manufacture sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are being researched and developed. The new infrastructure was made possible thanks to financing from OMV and funding from the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure.

The facility is housed in an entire building at the university and stands out for its exceptional flexibility. The experimental work is complemented by state-of-the-art process simulation methods and the application of machine learning models, which help to accelerate development cycles, reduce risks of scaling up, and systematically enhance efficiency, costs, and scalability in order to progress with the most promising production paths.

Martijn van Koten, OMV Executive Vice President Fuels and Chemicals: “Our close partnership with the Technical University of Leoben enables us to tread new paths in fundamental fuel research. Innovation and technology form the foundation of our transition to an integrated sustainable energy, fuels, and chemicals company. Sustainable fuels are a key element of this: they are already facilitating lower-carbon mobility and decisively contributing to our progress toward achieving net zero by 2050.” 

OMV is a long-standing partner of the Technical University of Leoben and provided targeted technological expertise and innovation. The planning and construction of the research facility were carried out in close collaboration. The partnership unites scientific excellence with industrial experience along the entire sustainable aviation fuel value chain. In this way, OMV is consistently driving the development of SAF and playing a critical role in the decarbonization of air travel as part of its transformation strategy.

Professor Markus Lehner, Head of the Chair of Process Technology and Industrial Environmental Protection, comments: “This facility is a significant milestone for sustainable, climate-neutral, and affordable mobility, including air travel. It positions Austria and the research scene in Styria as a leading innovation hub in the field of civil aviation.” 

The process chains to manufacture SAF are not yet fully mature: efficiencies are limited, production quantities are low, and costs are higher than for fossil-based kerosene. And that’s exactly where the new research infrastructure at the Technical University of Leoben comes in, working with OMV to develop technologically and financially feasible solutions for industrial application.

Global aviation generates around 2 percent of global carbon emissions. Sustainable aviation fuels are a key lever of the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative as they can be incorporated into existing infrastructure without any adaptations and can reduce carbon emissions by over 80 percent throughout the entire life cycle.