Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 13 hrs ago
New standard allows green methanol to be used for sustainable jet fuel
Long-distance flights still rely on liquid fuel because batteries are too heavy and hydrogen requires more space and changes to aircraft systems.
Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, is designed to work like ordinary kerosene but can be made using renewable materials or green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide.
One route uses green methanol, a simple alcohol, which can be turned into fuel through chemical processes.
On July 30, 2026, an international standards body approved methanol as a starting material for this process.
The resulting fuel can be blended with conventional kerosene and used in existing aircraft and infrastructure without modifications.
The EU requires airlines to use a growing share of sustainable fuel, but supplies of some raw materials are limited and SAF costs more than fossil kerosene.
The new approval could widen the options for producing it, though the sources do not say when or how much fuel will be made.
An international standard approved green methanol as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel.
The certification allows methanol-to-jet blending components to be made for use in aviation fuel.
The components can be blended with conventional kerosene at a minimum ratio of 50 percent by volume.
The resulting fuel can be used in existing aircraft, engines and infrastructure without modifications.
The approval could help expand options for reducing aviation emissions, particularly on long-distance flights.
- Who
- The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) certified green methanol as an eligible feedstock.
- What
- The new standard allows green methanol to be used to make sustainable jet fuel through an alcohol-to-jet process.
- When
- The certification was issued on July 30, 2026.
- Where
- The standard is international. The article also identifies the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg as working on green methanol production.
- Why
- Sustainable raw materials are limited, and sustainable aviation fuels are more expensive than conventional kerosene. The certification adds another potential route to lower-emission aviation fuel.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
The EU requirement for aircraft to use a 2 percent blend of bio-kerosene began.
ASTM certified sustainably produced methanol as an eligible feedstock for making sustainable jet fuel.
The EU’s required bio-kerosene share is due to rise to 6 percent.
- Certification date
- July 30, 2026
- Certifying organization
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
- Minimum conventional kerosene blend
- 50 percent by volume
- EU bio-kerosene requirement in 2025
- 2 percent
- EU bio-kerosene target for 2030
- 6 percent
Sources
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