IHI Corporation has successfully synthesized Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) directly from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, marking a significant advance in its novel technology pathway. The fuel sample has demonstrated excellent properties in an evaluation conducted by Washington State University, a globally recognized authority in aviation fuel testing.
This breakthrough is the result of a collaboration that began in 2022 with Singapore’s A*STAR Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE²). The partnership has focused on developing a catalytic process for directly creating SAF precursor hydrocarbons from CO₂ and hydrogen, a method that has already shown world-class performance in laboratory tests.
The project progressed to a critical pilot phase in September 2025, when IHI began trial synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons at a test unit located on the ISCE² campus. The company then further processed these hydrocarbons into a sample fitting the jet fuel range. For validation, the sample was sent to Washington State University, an institution recognized by ASTM International for its expertise in evaluating alternative aviation fuels.
The test results were highly promising. “IHI’s new candidate jet fuel sample met or exceeded all the testing characteristics we look for in early SAF candidates,” stated Dr. Joshua Heyne, Director of the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory at the university. He specifically highlighted favorable hydrocarbon composition and critical cold-flow properties like viscosity.
This successful evaluation represents a vital first step toward eventual ASTM International qualification, which is essential for commercializing the new synthesis method. The innovation comes as the aviation industry seeks scalable solutions to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050. Replacing conventional petroleum-based jet fuel with SAF is considered central to this transition.
IHI aims to build on this milestone to advance the development of efficient and stable production technology. The company’s goal is the early establishment of an economically viable and environmentally friendly pathway to support carbon-neutral aviation, directly converting CO₂ into a practical fuel for the future of flight.
