In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Alexei Beltyukov, CEO and co-founder of Universal Fuel Technologies (Unifuel), to unpack why sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as the most practical near-term pathway for reducing aviation emissions. Alexei explains the structural challenges facing SAF adoption, from the logistics of transporting alternative feedstocks to the cost of replicating in hours what nature took millions of years to produce. He also discusses Unifuel’s Flexiforming technology, a chemical process that converts a wide range of feedstocks into drop-in fuels compatible with today’s aircraft. The conversation explores why feedstock flexibility matters, what it takes to qualify new aviation fuels under rigorous industry standards, and how emerging technologies could significantly lower SAF costs.

Key Points:

• Aviation’s legacy infrastructure limits rapid change – Aircraft and fuel systems are built for decades of safe operation, meaning new fuels must closely mimic conventional jet fuel rather than requiring entirely new engines or infrastructure.
• Flexibility in feedstocks can lower costs – Unifuel’s Flexiforming process can convert multiple feedstocks, including alcohols and chemical byproducts, allowing producers to shift toward whichever inputs are most affordable and available.
• Decarbonization must work for existing industry players – Technologies that allow refineries to adapt existing equipment and remain profitable may accelerate the transition faster than approaches requiring a complete overhaul of infrastructure.

• Alexei Beltyukov, CEO and co-founder of Universal Fuel Technologies, LinkedIn

• Sarah Malpeli, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Account Director at Technica Communications, LinkedIn