Planned large-scale e-SAF plant in Schwedt
LEIPA Georg Leinfelder GmbH is set to be a cooperation partner of Concrete Chemicals GmbH, a joint venture between ENERTRAG and Zaffra, in one of Germany's most important decarbonisation projects: the construction of the largest industrial plant for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (e-SAF) in Germany to date.
Concrete Chemicals has been granted €350 million in funding for this project by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the State of Brandenburg. Final approval by the European Commission is still pending. The funding measure is part of the Guidelines on Climate, Energy and Environmental Aid (CEEAG) and aims to accelerate the development of a competitive hydrogen economy in Europe while strengthening the EU's energy sovereignty.
A core element of the project is the use of biogenic CO₂, which will come from LEIPA's paper production in Schwedt, among other sources. The CO₂ supplied by LEIPA will enable the production of around 30,000 tonnes of e-SAF and 7,000 tonnes of e-naphtha per year using the power-to-liquid (PtL) process, thereby avoiding at least 100,000 tonnes of fossil CO₂ emissions in aviation.
"For LEIPA, the planned cooperation represents a logical step towards further decarbonisation of industrial processes. As a leading manufacturer of paper and cardboard products based on waste paper, we use biogenic raw materials and have many years of experience in industrial environmental management. By providing our CO₂, we are contributing to the development of a sustainable hydrogen and e-fuel economy in Germany – and strengthening Schwedt's position as a hub for sustainable industrial production," explains Antonio Bellante, CEO of LEIPA Group GmbH.
The planned project is aligned with the national hydrogen strategy and is to be connected to the hydrogen core network in the long term. It supports the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which stipulates an e-SAF blending quota of 1.2% from 2030, as well as the EU's climate targets: 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050.
Further information can be found in the joint press release issued by project partners ENERTRAG and Zaffra on 29 January 2026.
About ENERTRAG
ENERTRAG has been implementing the energy transition for more than 25 years. Over 1,200 employees plan, build and operate interconnected power plants based on wind and solar installations, our own grid infrastructure, batteries and electrolysers. These provide reliable, demand-driven electricity, heat and green hydrogen, replacing every fossil fuel power plant. With our own plants, we generate around 2,000 gigawatt hours of electricity from wind and solar power annually, and green hydrogen since 2011. On this basis, we are developing energy projects with a capacity of over 30 gigawatts – in nine countries on four continents. ENERTRAG stands for the global energy supply of the future: sustainable, secure and regionally anchored. So that our planet remains livable. www.enertrag.com
About Zaffra
Zaffra is a joint venture between Sasol and Topsoe that is driving forward the production of sustainable aviation fuels. Zaffra's goal is to accelerate the decarbonisation of the aviation sector, supported by world-class technologies, asset development and the operational expertise of its shareholders. More at www.zaffra.com