The Global Drop-in Fuel for Aviation Market was valued at USD 542.7 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 13.24 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 57.4% during the forecast period (2023–2030). This explosive growth is driven by stringent carbon emission regulations, ambitious airline net-zero commitments, and substantial investments in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production capacities worldwide. Drop-in fuels, which are functionally equivalent to conventional jet fuel and require no modifications to existing aircraft or infrastructure, are at the forefront of the aviation industry’s decarbonization strategy.
As the global aviation sector intensifies its efforts to achieve climate goals, a new breed of energy companies and biofuel pioneers is emerging. These leaders are not just supplying fuel; they are building the entire ecosystem for a sustainable aviation future. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Drop-in Fuel for Aviation Market—a dynamic mix of established energy giants and innovative bio-refiners shaping the trajectory of global air travel.
🔟 1. Neste Oyj
Headquarters: Espoo, Finland
Key Offering: Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™
Neste is the undisputed global leader in the production of drop-in sustainable aviation fuel. Its proprietary Neste MY SAF is produced from 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste. The fuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle compared to conventional jet fuel and is fully compatible with existing aircraft and fueling infrastructure.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Current SAF production capacity: Over 1 million tons per year
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Target to have a SAF production capacity of 1.5 million tons per year by the end of 2024
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Strategic partnerships with major airlines including Delta, KLM, and Lufthansa Group
Download FREE Sample Report: Drop-in Fuel for Aviation Market – View in Detailed Research Report
9️⃣ 2. World Energy, LLC
Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Key Offering: HEFA-SPK Sustainable Aviation Fuel
World Energy operates what was the world’s first commercial-scale SAF production facility in Paramount, California. A key supplier in the North American market, the company specializes in producing Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA)-based SAF, which is currently the most commercially viable and widely approved pathway for drop-in biofuels.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Plans to expand its Paramount facility to produce 340 million gallons of SAF annually
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Long-term sustainable fuel supply agreements with JetBlue, United Airlines, and Boeing
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Investment in carbon reduction technologies and supply chain logistics
8️⃣ 3. TotalEnergies SE
Headquarters: Paris, France
Key Offering: TotalEnergies SAF (Biojet), Co-processed SAF
TotalEnergies is a major integrated energy company with a strong commitment to sustainable aviation. The company is actively involved in both standalone SAF production and co-processing biobased feedstocks in conventional refineries. Its La Mède biorefinery in France is a key asset in its European SAF strategy.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Aiming for 1.5 million tons of SAF production annually by 2030
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Partnered with Airbus on SAF certification and promotion
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Investing in new SAF production units at its Grandpuits and Normandy platforms
7️⃣ 4. BP p.l.c. (Air BP)
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Jet A-1, SAF supply and logistics
Through its specialized aviation division, Air BP, BP is a critical player in the global distribution of drop-in aviation fuels. The company is focused on scaling up the supply and availability of SAF, leveraging its extensive fuelling network at over 700 global locations to integrate sustainable options seamlessly into the existing fuel supply chain.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Supplying SAF at more than 20 airports across three continents
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Partnership with Neste to increase SAF volumes in Europe and North America
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Developing strategic hubs for SAF blending and distribution
6️⃣ 5. Gevo, Inc.
Headquarters: Englewood, Colorado, USA
Key Offering: Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) SAF, Net-Zero 1 Fuel
Gevo is a leading innovator in next-generation drop-in biofuels, specializing in the Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ-SPK) pathway. The company’s process converts sustainably sourced carbohydrates from crops like corn into low-carbon, high-energy-density jet fuel. Gevo’s “Net-Zero” projects aim to produce fuels with a net-zero greenhouse gas footprint across the entire lifecycle.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Developing its Net-Zero 1 plant in South Dakota, targeting 65 million gallons per year of SAF and renewable gasoline
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Multi-year supply agreements with airlines including Delta Air Lines and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
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Focus on sustainable farming practices to ensure low-carbon intensity feedstocks
Download FREE Sample Report: Drop-in Fuel for Aviation Market – View in Detailed Research Report
5️⃣ 6. Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc.
Headquarters: Pleasanton, California, USA
Key Offering: BioSynCrude™ derived SAF via Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process
Fulcrum BioEnergy is a pioneer in converting municipal solid waste (MSW) into low-carbon, drop-in aviation fuel. Its proprietary process involves gasifying household garbage into synthesis gas (syngas), which is then converted into liquid hydrocarbons via a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process. This pathway addresses waste management challenges while producing sustainable fuel.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Its Sierra BioFuels Plant in Nevada is one of the first commercial-scale MSW-to-fuels facilities in the U.S.
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Strategic partnerships and investments from BP, Marathon Petroleum, and United Airlines
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Plans to develop multiple waste-to-fuels plants across North America
4️⃣ 7. LanzaTech, Inc.
Headquarters: Skokie, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) SAF from carbon capture
LanzaTech has developed a unique gas fermentation technology that captures carbon-rich waste gases from industrial processes (e.g., steel manufacturing) and converts them into ethanol. This ethanol can then be transformed into drop-in jet fuel through its ATJ pathway, creating a circular carbon economy.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Collaboration with Virgin Atlantic and Swedish Biofuels to produce SAF from industrial waste gases
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Partnerships with major industrial companies like ArcelorMittal and Baowu Steel
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Pioneering the production of sustainable fuels from non-traditional, recycled carbon sources
3️⃣ 8. SkyNRG
Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Key Offering: Sustainable Aviation Fuel supply and advisory services
SkyNRG is a global market leader dedicated solely to SAF. Initially a spinoff from KLM, it has grown into a comprehensive SAF solutions provider, managing the entire supply chain from sourcing sustainable feedstocks to ensuring compliance with international sustainability standards. The company is also developing its own dedicated SAF production plants.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Global supplier of SAF to over 40 airlines worldwide
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Developing the DSL-01 plant in Delfzijl, Netherlands, Europe’s first dedicated SAF production facility
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Provides the “SkyNRG Americas” platform to scale SAF in the Western Hemisphere
2️⃣ 9. Repsol, S.A.
Headquarters: Madrid, Spain
Key Offering: Biojet produced via HEFA and co-processing
Repsol, a leading Spanish energy company, has made significant strides in the production and distribution of drop-in SAF. The company utilizes both dedicated HEFA production and co-processing technologies at its refineries to introduce biobased components into conventional jet fuel, effectively reducing its carbon footprint.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Produced Spain’s first batch of biojet fuel in 2020
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Aims to produce 1.3 million tons of low-carbon biofuels, including SAF, by 2025 and 2 million tons by 2030
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Strategic collaborations with Iberia and other carriers to promote SAF use
1️⃣ 10. Aemetis, Inc.
Headquarters: Cupertino, California, USA
Key Offering: Zero-Carbon 1 SAF, Ethanol-to-Jet
Aemetis is focused on producing below-zero carbon intensity renewable fuels. Its “Carbon Zero” projects are designed to produce SAF using renewable energy, negative-carbon-intensity hydrogen, and sustainable feedstocks. The company’s integrated approach aims to deliver a fuel with a significantly negative carbon footprint.
Market Leadership & Initiatives:
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Developing the Aemetis Carbon Zero plant in California to produce 90 million gallons per year of SAF and renewable diesel
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Signed SAF offtake agreements with major airlines, including a 900-million-gallon agreement with Delta Air Lines
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Utilizing cellulosic hydrogen and orchard wood waste to achieve ultra-low carbon intensity
Get Full Report Here: Drop-in Fuel for Aviation Market – View in Detailed Research Report
🌍 Outlook: The Trajectory of Drop-in Aviation Fuels is Steeply Ascending
The drop-in fuel for aviation market is at a critical inflection point, transitioning from niche demonstration projects to commercial-scale production. While the current market volume is a fraction of total jet fuel demand, the projected CAGR of over 57% signals an irreversible shift towards sustainable alternatives. Government mandates, corporate sustainability targets, and technological advancements are converging to create an unprecedented growth environment.
📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:
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Accelerated policy support: The US Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and EU ReFuelEU Aviation blending mandates are creating powerful economic incentives.
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Diversification of feedstocks: Expansion beyond HEFA to include municipal waste, agricultural residues, and captured carbon oxides to ensure scalability and sustainability.
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Vertical integration and partnerships: Airlines are forming strategic equity partnerships with fuel producers to secure long-term supply and de-risk investments.
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Technological innovation: Advances in catalysts and process efficiency for ATJ and FT-SPK pathways are reducing costs and improving yields.
Get Full Report Here: Drop-in Fuel for Aviation Market – View in Detailed Research Report
The companies profiled are at the vanguard of this transformation. They are not merely participants in a market; they are actively constructing the foundation for carbon-neutral aviation, proving that the future of flight can be both sustainable and seamless.
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