Korea Demonstrates Landfill Gas–to–SAF Pathway, Targets Commercialization by 2030
A Korean research team has successfully demonstrated an engineering pathway to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from landfill gas generated by food waste and other organic residues, opening a new low-cost route for high-value aviation fuels. According to Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), the project has validated the technical feasibility of the process and is targeting commercial deployment around 2030.
The research team constructed a pilot facility at a landfill site in Dalseong County, Daegu. The plant, roughly the size of a two-story house, is capable of producing approximately 100 kilograms of SAF per day. With mandatory greenhouse gas reduction requirements for the aviation sector set to take effect in 2027, airlines are actively seeking SAF solutions. However, SAF derived from used cooking oil faces constraints due to limited supply, competition with biodiesel production, and rising feedstock prices.
To overcome these challenges, the researchers focused on landfill gas produced from food waste and livestock manure, which is abundant and relatively inexpensive. After removing impurities such as sulfur compounds and excess carbon dioxide, the gas is converted into synthesis gas suitable for fuel production. The conversion efficiency from gaseous intermediates to liquid fuels was significantly improved through process optimization.
Plasma technology company Intocore Technology participated in the project, providing proprietary plasma reforming reactors for gas upgrading. KRICT then applied catalytic synthesis technology to convert synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons, producing SAF along with minor solid by-products such as waxes.
Notably, the system was designed in a modular and highly integrated format, reducing equipment volume to one-tenth of conventional large-scale plants. This allows flexible capacity expansion by adding modules. Researchers believe the technology enables SAF production not only at large refineries, but also at regional landfills and small waste-processing facilities, strengthening Korea’s long-term SAF competitiveness.