UK-based Octopus Energy Generation is planning to invest up to $6 billion in a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility in Canada, aiming to tap into rising demand in European markets, Bioenergy Insight reported.
The project will be developed through its Canadian arm, Nova Sustainable Fuels, at a coastal industrial site in Goldboro, Nova Scotia. Construction is expected to take about three years, with operations targeted to begin by 2031 following a final investment decision in 2028. The plant is designed to operate for up to 50 years.
The facility will use forestry waste such as branches, bark and other residues to produce fuel. Around 750,000 tonnes of biomass will be processed annually using gasification technology to break it down into hydrogen and carbon components.
These will be combined with additional green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy and water, to create methanol, which will then be converted into sustainable aviation fuel. A dedicated wind and solar power installation with more than one gigawatt capacity is also planned to support the plant’s energy needs.
The facility is expected to produce about 165,000 tonnes of SAF each year, which will be shipped to Europe through new marine infrastructure at the site.
Europe has emerged as a key market for such fuels following new rules that require a minimum share of SAF in aviation fuel supplied at airports. The demand for SAF is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by these regulations.
The project received environmental approval from the Nova Scotia government in December 2025, subject to several conditions related to environmental and health safeguards. Additional approvals will be required before construction begins.
The development is expected to create around 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and about 80 permanent roles once the plant becomes operational.
