Vema Hydrogen and SAF+ Partner to Develop Quebec’s First Integrated Synthetic Aviation Fuel Project
Vema Hydrogen and SAF+ International Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop what the companies describe as Quebec’s first integrated Engineered Mineral Hydrogen (EMH)-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production ecosystem.
The partnership aims to establish a commercial model that combines low-carbon hydrogen production with synthetic sustainable aviation fuel manufacturing, helping address growing demand for cleaner aviation fuels as global decarbonisation requirements tighten.
Under the agreement, Vema will supply more than 4,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually from its planned Quebec Engineered Mineral Hydrogen project, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028. The hydrogen will be used by SAF+ to produce synthetic aviation fuel using captured carbon dioxide, creating a lower-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel.
The companies said the project is designed to reduce one of the biggest barriers to wider SAF adoption: the availability and cost of low-carbon hydrogen. By locating SAF+’s production facility alongside Vema’s hydrogen operation, the partners aim to eliminate hydrogen transportation costs while improving supply chain reliability.
To convert the hydrogen into synthetic aviation fuel, SAF+ will deploy modular reactor technology developed by French climate technology company KHIMOD. The installation is expected to mark KHIMOD’s first commercial deployment in North America and will use compact modular reactors designed to improve production efficiency while reducing costs.
The aviation industry currently generates more than 880 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year, accounting for around 2% to 2.5% of global human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. Industry forecasts suggest aviation’s share could rise significantly over coming decades without widespread adoption of low-carbon fuels and technologies.
SAF+ said its synthetic fuel is designed as a drop-in replacement for conventional aviation fuel and could reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 90% compared with traditional jet fuel. The company believes integrating Engineered Mineral Hydrogen into its production process offers a more cost-effective pathway than relying solely on electrolytic hydrogen.
The project reflects growing efforts to establish regional sustainable aviation fuel supply chains as airlines seek to secure sufficient volumes of SAF to meet increasingly ambitious emissions reduction targets. The partners say the integrated model developed in Quebec could be replicated in other international aviation markets as demand for synthetic aviation fuels continues to grow.
