Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) announced that it had joined Project SkyPower, a CEO-led initiative that aims to accelerate the production of sustainable aviation fuel derived from renewable energy (“e-SAF”) across Europe and contribute towards achieving the aviation industry’s goal of global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

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With a specific focus on e-SAFs produced by electrolysis from green electricity and hydrogen, Project SkyPower is led by 13 aviation sector CEOs and brings together over 40 leading companies from across the value chain, including airlines, airports, technology providers and financial institutions. Its goal is to help pave the way for a fully operational e-SAF industry, initially by helping secure final investment decisions (“FID”) for the first large-scale production facilities by end 2025 to enable commercial scale up by 2030.

Corporate and M&A Partner Dirk Janssen, WFW’s lead contact for Project SkyPower, commented: “e-SAFs represent a pioneering technology that will not only transform the aviation industry but also make a vital contribution to the global energy transition. As the hub for two-thirds of global e-SAF projects, Europe is well placed to be a leader in this market”.

“WFW’s extensive experience advising on innovative energy and aviation projects means we have the expertise to support Project SkyPower in such an ambitious undertaking”.

WFW Global Aviation Sector Co-Head Jim Bell added: “Transforming the aviation industry towards a sustainable future is one of the most important challenges of our time. Through Project SkyPower, we can leverage our deep sector expertise to address the structural and regulatory hurdles essential for scaling e-SAF production. By joining the project, WFW reaffirms its commitment to leading forward-thinking projects that shape the future of aviation”.