Jet Fuel From Bahia: Inside Acelen’s $1.5B Aviation Play

Acelen Renewables secures $1.5 billion from a global consortium to build Latin America’s largest sustainable aviation fuel biorefinery in Bahia

29 Jun 2026

Acelen Renewables has finalized $1.5 billion in financing to construct a massive green fuel facility in Bahia, Brazil. Led by HSBC and the International Finance Corporation, the banking consortium includes ten major financial institutions. Construction is now funded, and operations are scheduled to begin in 2029.

The biorefinery will use hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids technology to pump out 1 billion liters of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel every year. This massive output marks a significant shift for clean fuel capacity across Latin America. Buyers have already claimed 90% of the commercial volume through pre-signed purchase agreements, showcasing immense market confidence long before the first drop is produced.

Market analysts at S&P Global noted that the financing structure reflects the project's advanced technical maturity. Very few clean energy projects of this scale manage to close financing with such comprehensive commercial agreements in place. Acelen executives highlighted that the strong backing from international lenders proves both the supply chains and customer demand are exceptionally secure.

For commercial airlines trying to navigate increasingly strict global decarbonization mandates, this facility offers a reliable supply lifeline. Brazil possesses a massive agricultural feedstock base, giving the Bahia refinery an immediate cost advantage over competitors in regions with scarce raw materials. This structural edge gives the project a distinct macroeconomic advantage. The successful funding of this massive deal will likely draw more green project finance into the region by proving that large-scale Latin American transition projects are highly bankable.