Honda Motors will soon start manufacturing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the company said. Honda is planning to expand its algae-cultivating business at plants in Japan and overseas, with an aim to achieve practical application of the fuel in the 2030s.
Meanwhile, Honda has begun collaborating with a domestic energy-related company over the production and distribution of SAF.
Japan mostly relies on imports for its SAF, and this initiative by Honda will provide a major boost to domestic SAF production in Japan.
Honda believes that if it can procure and utilise SAF independently, it will be able to increase the competitiveness of its HondaJet small business jet and a flying car, which it is developing as a next-generation means of transportation.
The government has set a goal of using SAF for 10% of the fuel used by Japanese airline companies by 2030.
SAF is not yet being commercially produced in Japan. Petroleum wholesaler Eneos and Mitsubishi are considering jointly commercialising supplies of SAF. Real estate firm Mitsubishi Estate Co. and major plant operator JGC Holdings, are also cooperating to collect used cooking oil for use in SAF manufacturing.