- Solarig will invest €1.15bn to build the Turboleta SAF facility in Teruel, Spain, with renewable energy assets, including solar, wind, and battery storage systems.
- The plant will produce over 75,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by 340,000 annually.
- The project will create nearly 1,200 jobs, boosting local economic growth and supporting decarbonisation efforts in the aviation sector.
Solarig has revealed plans to construct a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility in Teruel, Spain. The Turboleta SAF project will take shape in the Platea industrial park with an investment of €1.15 billion ($1.19 billion). The development will include renewable energy assets such as a solar plant, wind farm, and battery storage system, all directly linked to the SAF production facility.
The plant will produce over 75,000 tonnes of SAF annually to power 33,000 flights between Zaragoza and London with a 50% SAF blend. This initiative aligns with efforts to reduce aviation emissions, which account for about 14% of global transportation-related CO₂ emissions. Solarig’s decision to move forward with the project responds to decarbonisation goals highlighted at COP29.
Construction will kick off in 2027, and Solarig expects the facility to become operational before 2030. Once in operation, the plant will cut CO₂ emissions by 340,000 tonnes each year and capture and utilise 160,000 tonnes of CO₂ in its processes.
The project will create close to 1,200 jobs, including 1,000 during construction and 180 permanent positions when the plant begins operations. Teruel and Zaragoza airports will benefit from their proximity to the SAF production facility, allowing them to support air transport decarbonisation efforts while boosting local economic growth.
Solarig’s Chairman and CEO, Miguel Ángel Calleja, praised the project, stating, “This facility places Teruel at the forefront of sustainable fuel production. We are leveraging the region’s sun, wind, water, biogas, and biogenic CO₂ derived from agro-livestock waste.”
National and regional public entities and leading aviation companies support the project. Solarig plans to align the Turboleta SAF project with Europe’s climate goals by increasing the large-scale production of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.
The company has already submitted the project to Spain’s Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving (IDAE) to secure funding from the Next Generation EU funds under the Incentive Programme for Renewable Hydrogen Production and Consumption Projects. With financial backing, Solarig intends to accelerate its contribution to Europe’s green energy goals.
Solarig’s broader Spanish portfolio exceeds 400,000 tonnes of SAF production annually. The project will boost local infrastructure by integrating renewable resources such as solar and wind while contributing to Spain’s renewable energy capacity.
The Turboleta SAF facility will reduce emissions and create a new model for sustainable energy projects, combining renewable energy generation with advanced fuel production. This approach will help Solarig set the standard for future developments in the sector.