Aviation, shipping and fuel leaders convene in Rotterdam to accelerate sustainable fuels scale-up
The Sustainable Fuels Global Summit 2026 (SFGS2026) will take place from 11-12 March 2026 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders from across aviation, shipping, fuel production, investment and government to address how sustainable fuels can move from early deployment into large-scale commercial use in the transport sector. The summit has been developed against a backdrop of growing regulatory pressure to reduce lifecycle emissions, increasing demand for low-carbon alternatives to conventional fossil fuels, and intensifying global efforts to align policy and investment frameworks with net-zero goals. Against this background, SFGS2026 convenes producers, offtakers, policymakers, financiers and technology providers in a single forum and provides a setting for informed discussion on how policy, technology and finance can be aligned to support the growth of sustainable aviation fuels, synthetic fuels and other low carbon alternatives.
The sustainable fuels sector has evolved rapidly in recent years, driven by international climate commitments, regional blending mandates and corporate decarbonisation strategies. In aviation, frameworks such as CORSIA and emerging SAF requirements in Europe are reshaping fuel procurement and operational planning. Similarly, the shipping industry is exploring alternative fuels including e-fuels, methanol and advanced biofuels to meet new emissions standards. At the same time, project developers and offtakers face challenges related to feedstock availability, lifecycle emissions accounting, infrastructure readiness and financing, underscoring the need for coordinated dialogue across the value chain.
The timing of the summit reflects growing urgency among both policymakers and industry to move beyond pilot projects and announcements towards bankable investments and operational deployment.
Over the two-day programme, SFGS2026 will explore the key challenges and opportunities for scaling sustainable fuels across aviation and shipping.
On 11 March, sessions will focus on aligning policy, regulation and market incentives to drive adoption, examining how international and regional mandates, investment frameworks, and technological innovation are shaping the deployment of sustainable fuels. Discussions will also highlight next-generation production technologies, feedstock availability and cost-optimisation strategies to move fuels from demonstration projects to commercial use.
On 12 March, attention will shift to creating a cohesive industry value chain, linking upstream feedstocks, midstream logistics and downstream users. Sessions will cover high-quality certification processes, lifecycle emissions accounting and mechanisms to facilitate transparent trade and large-scale adoption, emphasising how collaboration across producers, offtakers, financiers and regulators can accelerate practical deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), synthetic fuels and other low‑carbon alternatives.
One of the summit’s highlights, the panel ‘Accelerating SAF Adoption: From Demonstration to Market Commercialization’, will bring together senior representatives from Airbus, OMV, DSV, Moeve, ACI EUROPE and White & Case. They will share insights on scaling up sustainable aviation fuels, including lessons from real-world projects, strategies to expand SAF production, approaches to coordinate policy, finance and technology, and operational and commercial challenges across airlines and regional markets.
A further panel, ‘Fuel Hubs and Flow: Mapping Investment into the Sustainable Fuel Economy’, will examine how regional fuel hubs are emerging across Europe, Asia and the Americas, and what defines a viable production and distribution ecosystem. The session will also look at the role of public-private partnerships and cross-border cooperation in de-risking investments and accelerating the scale-up of sustainable fuels infrastructure.
In addition to these panels, the summit will feature contributions from government, regulatory and industry leaders, including the European Commission, Federal Ministry for Transport Germany, Federal Office of Civil Aviation Switzerland, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Neste, Virgin Atlantic, Boeing, United Airlines, Lufthansa Group, DHL Group, NYK Line and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
The summit also includes the ‘Women in Sustainable MOVE Night’, which provides a forum for female leaders and professionals in sustainable fuels to network and share experiences.
SFGS2026 offers participants an overview of key developments in sustainable fuels and provides opportunities to engage with peers and foster collaboration across the value chain to support decarbonisation initiatives within aviation and shipping.
SFGS2026 is held in partnership with FuelsEurope and is sponsored by Moeve, Shaphar Group and White & Case, reflecting the involvement of both industry and professional services in supporting the transition towards low-carbon fuels.
