2026 North American SAF Conference & Expo --- August 25-27, 2026 --- Tacoma, WA

March 02, 2026

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SAF Magazine, in collaboration with the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), has announced the dates for the 2026 North American SAF Conference & Expo. Taking place Aug. 25-27, in Tacoma, Washington, at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, the North American SAF Conference & Expo is designed specifically for companies and organizations advancing technologies that support the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

SAF Magazine and CAAFI will collaborate for this conference to showcase the latest strategies for aviation fuel decarbonization, solutions for key industry challenges, and highlight the current opportunities for airlines, corporations and fuel producers. This is in alignment with CAAFI’s efforts to implement and share the best practices, enhance the SAF fuel qualification approach, and reinforce the value proposition of SAF.

“We’re excited to bring the North American SAF Conference & Expo to Washington state, a region that is rapidly emerging as a global hub for sustainable aviation fuel,” said John Nelson, chief operating officer of BBI International and SAF Magazine. “The launch of the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator reflects the kind of cross-sector collaboration needed to accelerate SAF production, deployment and adoption, bringing together airlines, aerospace leaders, fuel producers and policymakers to scale the industry.”

The following categories:

Offtake Agreements
Airline Partnerships
Biological Conversion Pathways
Thermochemical Conversion Pathways
Bio-intermediates/Supply Chain
Federal Policy/RFS pathway approval
Distribution Infrastructure
Test Flights/Commercial Readiness
GHG Accounting
SAF Production at Gen 1 Biofuels Facilities

Plus, a timely opportunity to explore the growing intersection between sustainable aviation fuel and marine biofuels. To highlight the synergies between these two markets, we are adding a special pre-conference “Morning Maritime” session on the opening day of the event. The session will feature two panel discussions:

Panel 1:

Same Feedstock, Two Sectors: The SAF-Maritime Biofuel Opportunity

Panel 2:

From the Refinery to the Dock: How Biofuel Producers Can Serve Two Masters

Pitch Day provides a platform for emerging companies to present their technologies, business models and commercialization strategies to an audience of industry leaders, strategic partners and investors. The program is designed to connect promising innovators with the capital and industry relationships needed to accelerate commercialization and deployment.

"The sustainable aviation fuel industry is entering a critical phase of commercialization, where innovative technologies need strategic investment and industry partnerships to scale," said John Nelson, chief operating officer at BBI International. "Pitch Day gives emerging companies the opportunity to showcase solutions that can help expand SAF production while connecting them with the investors and partners who can help bring those technologies to market."

The six companies selected to give an in-person pitch at the International North American SAF Conference & Expo are:

DPChem Consulting, Inc.
DPChem is developing a trap grease biorefinery that converts restaurant trap grease into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable natural gas. Its proprietary immobilized enzymatic process separates and purifies fats, oils and grease, producing fatty acids that are converted into SAF through the ASTM D7566 Annex A2 pathway. Waste streams are directed to anaerobic digesters to produce RNG, creating a low-waste, very low-carbon- intensity suite of renewable fuel products.

Coconut Enterprises Limited
Coconut Enterprises Limited and Akwill, through a joint venture, have more than 25 years of experience producing sustainable solutions for agriculture, construction and bioengineering. Working with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the company is expanding into commercial grow media production and hydroponic farming systems while supporting sustainable agricultural practices and renewable feedstock development.

Alder Renewables
Alder Renewables has developed innovative technology that converts abundant, sustainable biomass into Alder Renewable Crude, a refinery-compatible biogenic feedstock for producing sustainable aviation fuel and other advanced biofuels. By leveraging existing refinery infrastructure, Alder offers a scalable, capital-efficient pathway to SAF production with significantly lower capital and operating costs than conventional stand-alone biorefineries.

Mercurius Biorefining
Mercurius Biorefining is commercializing its patented REACH™ process to produce carbon-negative, drop-in fuels and renewable chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass and municipal solid waste. The liquid-phase catalytic technology converts agricultural residues, forestry waste and other sustainable feedstocks into low-carbon transportation fuels and valuable chemical products.

Bara Consultants
Bara Consultants is an engineering, technology and project development company specializing in thermochemical conversion technologies that transform agricultural, forestry and waste-derived biomass into renewable fuels, clean energy and carbon-based products. Through expertise in gasification, pyrolysis, feedstock evaluation and integrated waste-to-energy systems, Bara develops scalable, environmentally responsible solutions that support circular economy initiatives and measurable carbon reduction.

SkyFuel Renewables, LLC
SkyFuel Renewables is developing Alcohol-to-Jet and Fischer-Tropsch sustainable aviation fuel production capacity in the United States. Its first commercial facility in Kentucky is expected to produce approximately 15 million gallons of SAF annually, with commercial operations targeted for 2028-29. The company has secured a long-term renewable natural gas feedstock supply through the Global NRG platform, helping mitigate feedstock price volatility while advancing cost-competitive SAF production.

"The companies selected for Pitch Day aren't just developing new ideas; they're building practical solutions that can help accelerate SAF production," said Marla DeFoe, senior marketing and advertising manager at BBI International. "Each participant brings a unique approach to improving feedstock utilization, lowering carbon intensity or advancing scalable production, making them excellent examples of where the industry is headed."

Pitch Day presentations will be open to all conference attendees, providing a unique opportunity to discover emerging technologies and business models that are shaping the future of sustainable aviation fuel. The session encourages dialogue between innovators, producers, investors, technology developers and other industry stakeholders, fostering connections that can help accelerate commercialization.

“Washington’s leadership complements the broader ecosystem of organizations such as the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, which brings together airlines, manufacturers, energy producers and government agencies to advance alternative jet fuel deployment, and Canada’s C-SAF council, which is working to accelerate the commercial deployment of SAF across the Canadian aviation sector,” Nelson added. “Together, these initiatives demonstrate the global momentum behind SAF and make the Pacific Northwest an ideal location to convene the industry and drive the next phase of commercialization.”

About SAF Magazine
SAF Magazine is a print and online news and data source designed specifically for companies, organizations and other stakeholders focused on expanding the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). SAF Magazine is the leading source of information, research, data, trends and all other aspects of the SAF supply chain, with the goal of supporting industry contributors as they build knowledge, connect and collaborate with others, and gain a better understanding of the market.

About BBI International
BBI International produces globally recognized events and trade magazines. In addition to the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo – the largest, longest-running ethanol conference in the world – BBI owns and operates the UAS Summit & Expo, Sustainable Fuels Summit, International Biomass Conference & Expo, North American SAF Conference & Expo, Carbon Capture & Storage Summit, and its allied regional events. The company publishes Ethanol Producer Magazine, Biomass Magazine, Biodiesel Magazine, UAS Magazine, SAF Magazine and Carbon Capture Magazine. These publications, together with an array of ancillary products including maps, directories, e-newsletters, and other digital resources, underscore our commitment to providing comprehensive, up-to-date information and insights to professionals in the bioenergy sectors, including ethanol, biomass, pellets, biogas, RNG, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), biodiesel & renewable diesel and as well as the UAS industry, which focuses on unmanned aerial systems. READ MORE

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North American SAF Conference & Expo Launches Morning Aviation & Maritime Fuels Forum to Explore Synergies of SAF & Sustainable Marine Fuels

The North American SAF Conference & Expo, produced by BBI International and SAF Magazine in partnership with the Commercial Airline Alternative Fuel Initiative and C-SAF, is excited to announce its expanded its agenda with the addition of the Aviation & Maritime Fuels Forum, a dedicated program exploring the rapidly evolving role of sustainable fuels in the maritime sector and the growing intersections between aviation and marine decarbonization.

Taking place the morning of Aug. 25 preceding the SAF Conference, the Aviation & Maritime Fuels Forum will feature industry stakeholders discussing the opportunities and challenges surrounding renewable marine fuels, including biofuels, while examining how the maritime and aviation industries are increasingly connected through shared feedstocks, infrastructure, policy and fuel production capacity.

The program will open with welcoming remarks from CAAFI’s Steve Csonka, who will provide an overview of the intersection between the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and maritime fuel sectors, highlighting where the industries share common feedstocks, technologies, infrastructure and policy priorities, as well as areas of competition and opportunities for collaboration.

The Port of Seattle Commission President Ryan Calkins will serve as keynote, followed by a panel assembled by the Port of Seattle that will feature representatives from across the maritime fuels value chain. Additional speakers include Tad Hepner, American Maritime Biofuels Initiative; Chris Cassidy, USDA; and more.

"As sustainable fuel markets continue to evolve, it has become increasingly clear that aviation and maritime are not developing independently," said Anna Simet, director of content at BBI International. "Both sectors are pursuing aggressive decarbonization goals while relying on many of the same technologies, supply chains and policy frameworks. The Morning Maritime Forum will provide attendees with valuable insight into where those industries intersect and how collaboration can help accelerate deployment."

The Morning Maritime Forum will examine topics including:

The growing role of renewable marine fuels in vessel decarbonization
Shared feedstocks, infrastructure and fuel logistics between aviation and maritime markets
Policy developments influencing marine fuel adoption
Opportunities and challenges surrounding renewable diesel, ethanol, renewable natural gas and other sustainable fuels
The role of ports in supporting fuel production, distribution and market growth
Areas where aviation and maritime stakeholders can collaborate to accelerate sustainable fuel deployment

The Aviation & Maritime Fuels Forum is included with full conference registration and will precede the opening general session of the North American SAF Conference & Expo.

Now in its fourth year, the North American SAF Conference & Expo is the continent's premier event dedicated to sustainable aviation fuel, bringing together fuel producers, airlines, technology developers, feedstock suppliers, project developers, investors, regulators and other industry stakeholders to advance commercial deployment of low-carbon aviation fuels.

For more information or to register, visit www.safconference.com.