By acquiring a stake in the young and highly innovative aviation start-up AERLIN, the eFUEL GROUP is consistently expanding its integrated investment strategy across the entire eSAF value chain. The commitment ranges from CO₂ capture from ambient air via Direct Air Capture (DAC) at DACMA and the production of synthetic fuels at German eFuel One GmbH, to the development and production of eSAF at CAPHENIA for various aviation applications, with the goal of achieving eSAF certification in accordance with the applicable regulatory requirements.
The investment in AERLIN adds the user and technology perspective of the aviation industry to the eFUEL GROUP's portfolio while simultaneously strengthening the group's positioning along the synthetic aviation fuel value chain.
The investment in AERLIN became official on Friday, August 28, 2026, and was made through eFG Aviation GmbH, the eFUEL GROUP's special-purpose vehicle focused on the aviation sector. With this investment, the group strengthens its position as a strategic partner for the development, production, and application of synthetic aviation fuels.
Aviation is one of the most challenging sectors to defossilize. Depending on the operational profile, electric and hydrogen-based propulsion systems may make important contributions in the future. For large parts of the existing fleet, particularly in medium- and long-haul transport, synthetic aviation fuels such as eSAF will play a central role. Prerequisites for this include renewable electricity, hydrogen, and suitable carbon sources—such as CO₂ from DAC plants or biogenic processes—subject to their respective regulatory recognition and certification.
AERLIN complements the eFUEL GROUP's portfolio at the intersection of aircraft technology, user requirements, and the practical use of synthetic energy carriers. The partnership aims to further intensify the exchange between aircraft developers and fuel producers. This allows user requirements and perspectives to be incorporated into the group's strategic development of fuel and technology projects at an early stage.
"With our investment in AERLIN, we are sending a clear signal for a holistic transformation of aviation," says Mark Jorczyk, Managing Director of eFG Aviation GmbH. "Anyone who wants to advance the defossilization of air transport in an economical and scalable way must think about the entire chain. From CO₂ extraction and the provision of electricity from renewable energy sources to hydrogen and fuel production, all the way to application in the aircraft. AERLIN is an excellent addition to our portfolio and provides us with additional insights into the requirements of future users."
Dr. Alexander Erdmann, CEO of AERLIN, emphasizes: "With the successful closing of our seed funding round, we have reached an important milestone for AERLIN. We are very pleased to have visionary and long-term partners by our side who share our conviction that new aircraft concepts and energy carriers based on renewable electricity have the potential to improve the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas footprint of aviation, depending on the operational profile, energy supply, and regulatory recognition."
"For us, as the lead investor, eFG Aviation GmbH is much more than just a strong financing partner. Due to its strategic focus on eFuels and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), it is an ideal partner for our vision of aviation with a long-term reduction in dependence on fossil fuels. The fact that we were also able to win over IBB Ventures as well as experienced private investors—including those from the Business Angel Club BerlinBrandenburg—for our vision reinforces our technological and strategic approach."
The funding will help us further advance our vision: the development and construction of our first manned aircraft, which will fundamentally change the aviation of tomorrow through our blended-wing architecture.
Stephan Schulze, Investment Director at IBB Ventures, adds: "We were inspired by the vision of a future with lower-emission aviation, impressed by the team's expertise and experience, and convinced by their structured approach, which includes initial validation with a flight-capable model. We are pleased to be able to participate in this outstanding development project and thus also build on Berlin's great aviation tradition."
"As the eFUEL GROUP, we look forward to working with AERLIN and to opening up new perspectives for the aviation of tomorrow together. Strong partnerships are the key to bringing innovations to application faster and advancing the defossilization of air transport step by step. Together, we want to further develop industrial and technological solutions that are still associated with significant challenges today," says Dirk Wullenweber, Chief Investor Officer of the eFUEL GROUP.
Our vision is an aviation industry that enables global mobility and economic development without being dependent on fossil fuels in the long term. To achieve this, renewable energies, carbon sources that meet the relevant sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction criteria, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and new aircraft concepts must be consistently thought of together.
Together with AERLIN, the eFUEL GROUP aims to play a disruptive role in this change and contribute to shaping the transformation of aviation in the long term. Combining innovative aircraft technology with an integrated value chain for eSAF/eMogas creates new opportunities to consider technical efficiency, regulatory sustainability requirements, and practical applicability as early as the development phase of future aviation solutions.
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