As China accelerates its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) rollout, Danish technology firm Topsoe is becoming a key player in China sustainable aviation fuel development. With multiple Topsoe SAF projects supporting SAF production China and China SAF production capacity expansion, the company is helping deliver large-scale sustainable aviation fuel projects in China under the country’s dual-carbon strategy.
Why Topsoe Matters for China’s SAF Ambitions
Topsoe specialises in turning waste materials, such as used cooking oil, animal fats and biomass, into jet fuel that can be used in aircraft without any engine modifications. This means airlines can use the fuel straight away, without needing new aircraft or new airport infrastructure.
By early 2026, Topsoe had secured four major production contracts in China, placing the company among the most important technology providers supporting SAF production China as the sector moves beyond the initial projects phase.
A Growing Network of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Projects
Several Chinese energy and biofuel companies are building large SAF plants as part of China sustainable aviation fuel growth. Topsoe SAF is providing the main technology for these projects, helping increase SAF production China.
In Hebei province, Zhongneng Yida New Energy is building a plant in Shijiazhuang that will produce 400,000 tonnes of SAF per year. Construction started in late 2025, and the plant is expected to begin operating in the first half of 2027. The project could make about $754 million per year and cut around 930,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions annually, supporting China SAF production capacity expansion.
Other sustainable aviation fuel projects in China are also moving forward. In Zhejiang, Zhejiang Jianglan New Energy is developing a plant in Zhoushan that aims to produce 300,000 tonnes of SAF per year from December 2026. In Guangxi, Chuangui New Energy is building a facility in Qinzhou to turn 300,000 tonnes of waste oils and fats into SAF and renewable diesel, also starting in December 2026.
Topsoe signed its first SAF deal in China in April 2024 with Guangxi Hongkun Biomass Fuel, with production expected in early 2026. In January 2026, Tangshan Jinlihai Biotechnology also chose Topsoe SAF technology for another plant in Hebei, adding to the growing list of sustainable aviation fuel projects in China.
How Topsoe SAF Technology Turns Waste into Jet Fuel
In simple terms, Topsoe’s technology sits at the centre of China sustainable aviation fuel production, helping turn waste into jet fuel while reducing emissions through low-carbon hydrogen.
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HydroFlex™ converts fats, oils and greases into jet fuel and renewable diesel.
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Proprietary catalysts remove oxygen and sulfur and restructure molecules into aviation-grade hydrocarbons.
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H2bridge™ supports a low-carbon hydrogen supply, lowering the lifecycle emissions of SAF production.
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Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) technology is 20-30% more efficient than conventional electrolysis, supporting green hydrogen and future synthetic aviation fuels.
China’s Long-Term SAF Targets and What It Means for Aviation
These projects support China’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. The Civil Aviation Administration of China plans to increase SAF consumption to 45 million metric tonnes by 2050, up from around 50,000 tonnes today, highlighting the scale of China SAF production capacity expansion still required.
Initially, production from plants such as Zhejiang Jianglan and Zhongneng Yida is expected to be exported to Europe, where SAF mandates and incentives are more advanced. Over time, output is likely to shift toward China’s domestic aviation market as policy support and airline demand increase.
With several large SAF plants scheduled to start operating between 2026 and 2027, SAF production in China is moving beyond small trials to full industrial output. The expansion of China sustainable aviation fuel capacity could influence how much SAF is available worldwide, how it is priced, and where it is traded.
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