Synthetic Fuels Research for Aviation

To reduce development costs and ensure safe synthetic jet fuels, known as SAFs, NREL research improves the understanding of how jet fuel properties impact jet engine performance.

NREL combines its extensive experience in property measurements, combustion mechanisms, and alternative fuels with high-performance computing to provide detailed insights for manufacturers.

Learn about NREL's other aviation research.

Synthetic Aviation Fuel Standards

NREL has extensive knowledge in the process of bringing new fuels to market. This includes the certification process for existing fuels such as E85, biodiesel, and other alternative fuels, which will be critical to certifying and accelerating new forms of SAFs for use. We have experience working with fuel standards organizations, such as ASTM International and the International Organization for Standardization, to develop and modify standards for alternative fuels.

Synthetic Aviation Fuel Modeling and Analysis

With world-class models and supercomputing capabilities, NREL provides holistic modeling and analysis to catalyze commercialization of SAFs. Researchers collaborate to develop high-fidelity aerocombustor simulations to predict fuel chemistry and property impacts. These simulations are supported by fuel properties measured at engine relevant conditions and by accurate reduced chemical kinetics models for SAF combustion. 

Measuring Accurate Fuel Properties at Actual Conditions

We measure fuel properties critical to turbine engine performance—including surface tension, freezing point, viscosity, and density—at extreme operating conditions such as at very low or very high temperatures and pressures. These data serve as inputs into the Combustion-Pele software suite to improve simulations and map how fuel properties affect turbine performance. 

Reducing ASTM International Approval Risks

We model and simulate critical fuel properties and performance in early stages of technology development to characterize and optimize the system performance of new drop-in SAF candidates, helping fuel producers prioritize technologies most likely to receive ASTM approval.

Mapping Fuel Properties to Performance

To help with the transition from 50% SAF blends—the current ASTM limit—to the use of pure SAF, we accurately map fuel properties to performance. This also clears the way for future SAF formulations specially tuned for novel new turbine designs to achieve even greater performance and efficiency advantages. See combustion simulations for synthetic aviation fuels end use.

Reducing Risk of Synthetic Fuel Process Scale-Up

Through physical and virtual modeling, we can empower SAF producers with insights that predict novel fuel performance while the production process is still at a low technology readiness level.

Publications

Measurement of Spray Chamber Ignition Delay and Cetane Number for Aviation Turbine Fuels, Energy and Fuels (2025)

Cycloalkane-Rich Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production via Hydrotreating Lignocellulosic Biomass-derived Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis Oils, Sustainable Energy & Fuels (2024)

Catalytic Upgrading of Wet Waste-Derived Carboxylic Acids to Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Chemical Feedstocks, EES Catalysis (2024)

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Blending and Logistics, NREL Technical Report (2024)

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