The YAF (Yeast-based Aviation Fuels) project, coordinated by IMDEA Energy and led by Elia Tomás Pejó, head of the institute’s Biotechnological Processes Unit, has been awarded the Best Project in Biocircularity Award at the II BioCircular Summit, held on 28 January.

The award was presented during the second edition of the National Biocircularity Awards, which recognise entities, projects and professionals who are making a decisive contribution to the development of biocircular solutions in Spain. The project was presented by Elia Tomás Pejó, representing the consortium, together with David Moreno from CIEMAT, who outlined the vision, scientific advances and potential impact of YAF on the decarbonisation of the aviation sector.

A European project to promote sustainable aviation fuels

The YAF project, coordinated by IMDEA Energy, receives the Award for Best Project in Biocircularity at the II BioCircular Summit

YAF is a doctoral network funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks programme, which aims to train the next generation of researchers in an interdisciplinary and intersectoral environment. The project addresses one of the major challenges of the energy transition, namely the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) from yeast-based biotechnological processes. Its research programme ranges from the valorisation of biowaste and the design of new cell factories and catalysts to process scaling and the assessment of the sustainability of different production routes, contributing to progress towards more sustainable air transport.

This award recognises not only the scientific and technological excellence of the project, but also its integrative approach and its contribution to the development of sustainable solutions aligned with European objectives for the decarbonisation of air transport.