SkyNRG has reached financial close for its DSL-01 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility at the Delfzijl chemical park in the north of the Netherlands, marking a major milestone after seven years of development.
Once operational, DSL-01 will produce 100,000 tonnes of SAF annually, along with 35,000 tonnes of sustainable by-products including biobased propane, butane and naphtha. The plant will use the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) pathway, enabled by Topsoe’s HydroFlex technology. Construction has begun, with start-up expected by mid-2028.
Lifecycle greenhouse gas reductions from the SAF produced at DSL-01 are projected to increase from around 80% initially to more than 90% over time, supported by greater availability of Dutch renewable energy and reduced reliance on natural gas. The project is expected to strengthen the regional green industrial cluster and contribute to the sustainability ambitions of Groningen Seaports and the Province of Groningen.
KLM – Royal Dutch Airlines will act as the primary off-taker for the SAF volumes, supporting the airline’s sustainability targets and compliance with European regulations.
DSL-01 is the first commercial-scale SAF facility to secure non-recourse project financing, signalling growing investor confidence in scalable SAF production. Shareholders include KLM, Macquarie Group, APG and minority investors. A consortium of international lenders is providing debt financing, with ING Bank N.V. appointed as Facility Agent.
SkyNRG Chief Executive and Co-Founder Maarten van Dijk said: “Reaching this important milestone in the development of our DSL-01 facility marks an important step in our transition to becoming an owner and operator of SAF production capacity. I’m proud of our team and partners, who have worked tirelessly through complexity and overcome significant challenges to bring the project to this point. It is crucial that we increase the global production of SAF to enable future generations to have the ability to fly when needed and SAF plays a vital role in the decarbonization of aviation.”
Alongside DSL-01, SkyNRG is progressing additional SAF projects in the United States and Sweden as it expands its production footprint.
