Nova Pangaea completes SAF trials as it targets first commercial plant

New process turns softwood residues from timber processing into SAF

UK sustainable aviation fuel pioneer, Nova Pangaea Technologies, has completed endurance trials of its waste biomass technology, as it prepares to raise funds for its first commercial-scale plant.

The Teesside-based company said production runs of up to 72 hours at its demonstration plant had operated continuously and stably, with yields exceeding targets.

The latest trials processed up to three tonnes of softwood residues from timber processing per day, building on smaller-scale trials carried out in early 2025.

Nova Pangaea is developing technology that converts waste biomass such as wood chips, sawdust and wheat straw into ethanol, which can then be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel.

The process, known as REFNOVA, also produces biochar which permanently captures carbon, with the company positioning the technology as capable of producing carbon-negative fuel.

The trials come as the aviation industry faces growing pressure to scale SAF production and diversify the feedstocks used to make it.

At present, almost all SAF production relies on used cooking oil, which is expected to be insufficient to meet future demand as mandatory blending requirements increase.

Under UK and EU rules, the proportion of SAF used by airlines is set to increase from 2% currently to as much as 70% by 2050. Nova Pangaea said waste biomass could provide an alternative source of feedstock, with IATA estimating that European and UK waste biomass could produce around 30 million tonnes of SAF by 2030.

Nova Pangaea is working with British Airways and LanzaJet on Project Speedbird, a UK government-backed initiative to develop carbon-negative aviation fuel from domestic waste biomass.

Under the project, Nova Pangaea plans to construct four UK facilities producing bioethanol from local waste for subsequent conversion into SAF.

Chief executive Stewart Stewart said the latest trials should strengthen investor confidence as the company moves towards its first commercial plant.

“The SAF industry is currently at a critical point,” he said, pointing to increasing demand and the need to reduce aviation's dependence on a single feedstock.

Nova Pangaea has raised more than £21 million to date from investors including International Airlines Group, PXN Ventures and Mercia Ventures, alongside UK government grant funding through the Advanced Fuels Fund.