Siemens and Caphenia, a cleantech company, have entered a partnership to scale the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). SAF is a synthetic kerosene made from renewable feedstocks that can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil kerosene
As the preferred automation and digitalisation partner, Siemens will provide automation and digitalisation solutions for Caphenia’s plasma technology, which converts biomethane into synthesis gas. The goal is a standardised concept that enables the global rollout of commercial production facilities.
Caphenia’s technology utilises a plasma process to split biomethane into synthesis gas at around 1,500 degrees Celsius. Capthenia’s Plasma Boudouard Reactor (PBR) is a 3-in-1 zone reactor that integrates three established chemical reactions into a single system. The resulting synthesis gas can be processed into SAF, renewable diesel, or chemical products, with no by-products and minimal energy losses.
Additionally, the heat released during synthesis gas cooling can be used to preheat the incoming biomethane, resulting in a process efficiency of over 86%.
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 digitalisation and automation solutions, we are making CAPHENIA's technology industrially scalable and thus accelerating its global market ramp-up."
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 standardise and digitalise 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."
Under the agreement, Siemens will be Caphenia’s preferred supplier and technology partner, providing solutions from its Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, including drive technology, process simulation software, process control systems, and measurement technology. Digital twins will enable the optimisation of operating parameters prior to physical commissioning and the consistent management of processes across different sites.
Siemens is supporting Caphenia from its pilot plant at an industrial park in Höchst (Frankfurt, Germany) through to commercial scale-up, aiming to develop a standardised automation and digitalisation template for Caphenia’s Plasma Boudouard Reactor (PBR) that is modularly scalable and adaptable to different locations. This is intended to accelerate the rollout of new plants and reduce commissioning time.
