Portugal Turns Kitchen Waste into Sky-Friendly Fuel

Galp and Mitsui aim to turn kitchen scraps into cleaner aviation fuel by 2026

7 Feb 2025

Portuguese energy firm Galp and Japan’s Mitsui are investing €400m to develop one of Europe's largest renewable fuel plants, aiming to transform waste products into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel by 2026.

Located at Galp's Sines refinery, the facility will repurpose used cooking oils and fats into fuels suitable for aviation and heavy transport. A key innovation is its integration of green hydrogen, produced using renewable electricity, further reducing the environmental impact of production.

The project responds directly to increasing pressure within the European Union for tighter emission standards, particularly in sectors difficult to electrify, such as aviation and heavy road transport. Demand for sustainable aviation fuels is projected to rise significantly, positioning Galp and Mitsui strategically in a growing market.

"This is a smart and necessary evolution for the sector," said Marta Ribeiro, an energy analyst. "It shows how legacy infrastructure can be repurposed for the energy transition."

While promising, challenges remain. The relatively high cost of green hydrogen and increasing competition for waste-based raw materials may pose hurdles. Nonetheless, the partners see early investment as essential to securing a leadership position in renewable fuels amid global shifts toward decarbonisation.

The Sines plant illustrates the wider potential of circular economy approaches in energy production, demonstrating practical applications beyond conventional fossil fuels. As more countries commit to achieving net-zero emissions, facilities like these could serve as replicable models, showcasing how waste streams can fuel sustainable transportation solutions.