Siemens & CAPHENIA have entered a new partnership to scale the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
The ultimate goal of the partnership is to standardise a concept that enables the global rollout of commercial SAF production facilities utilising Siemens’ digitalisation and automation solutions for CAPHENIA’s plasma technology, which converts bio-methane into synthesis gas.
CAPHENIA’s technology utilises a plasma process to split bio-methane into synthesis gas at temperatures of roughly 1,500 degrees Celsius. Its Plasma Boudouard Reactor (PBR) is a 3-in-1 zone reactor that integrates three established chemical reactions in one system, with the resulting synthesis gas capable of being processed into SAF, renewable diesel or chemical products.
The heat released when cooling the synthesis gas is also used to preheat incoming bio-methane, resulting in a process efficiency of over 86% and representing a higher energy efficiency than currently available conventional methods.
Christian Gückel, Head of Vertical Chemicals at Siemens Digital Industries, said:Decarbonising aviation cannot be achieved without synthetic fuels. Demand for SAF is growing exponentially, yet production capacity urgently needs to be ramped up.
This is exactly where Siemens comes in: with our digitalization and automation solutions, we are making CAPHENIA's technology industrially scalable and thus accelerating its global market ramp-up.
The new partnership between the two companies will see Siemens become CAPHENIA’s preferred supplier and technology partner, offering solutions from its Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, including process control systems, drive technology, measurement technology, and process simulation software.
Newly created digital twins will aim to aid in the optimisation of operating parameters before physical commissioning, as well as provide the ability to manage processes consistently across different sites.
Siemens will predominantly support CAPHENIA from its pilot plant at industrial park Höchst (Frankfurt, Germany) through to commercial scale-up. The two companies will aim to develop a standardised automation and digitalization template for CAPHENIA’s Plasma Boudouard Reactor (PBR) that is both modularly scalable and can be adapted to different locations, accelerating the rapid rollout of new plants in the coming years and, potentially, reducing commissioning time.
Dr. Mark Misselhorn, Founder and CEO of CAPHENIA, said:This partnership shows how technology leaders are working together to drive forward the energy transition. Siemens brings the portfolio and expertise to standardize and digitalize our plants.
But the real point is this: the market for sustainable aviation fuels will not grow evenly—it will fragment. Those who scale quickly, those who are industrial-ready, those who have the right partners will lead. Together, we are not only laying the foundation for the international ramp-up of our PBR technology – we want to lead it.
