Riku Aho is a sourcing professional who joined Finnair in 2011 and acts currently as VP Energy Transition. In this role Riku leads the decarbonization strategy related to energy use, which also entails the creation of Finnair’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) strategy. In his previous role in Fleet Management Riku looked after aircraft trading, leasing and asset management. He has a background in engineering and physics and has held various positions in sourcing and quality management in Australia and Finland. Riku’s interests lie in sustainability, energy transition, fleet planning, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management and future technologies enabling zero emission flight. Riku holds an M.Sc (Eng) degree from Tampere University of Technology.
Attending
Hydrogen Summit
Potential of eSAF to Finnish Hydrogen Economy
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026
1:35 PM - 1:55 PM | Europe/Brussels
H2 Hub Stage
Hydrogen Summit
From CO₂ to Aviation Jet Fuel: Scaling eSAF Production from Pilot to Industrial Volumes through integrated Ecosystem Partnerships
Finland has massive untapped economic growth potential in the production of green hydrogen derivatives. Synthetic aviation fuel (eSAF) has a strong case because demand mandated by EU starts already in 2030. Can we take ideas from spreadsheet to lab, lab to demo, demo to pilot and to commercial operation? Can we rise up to the challenge?
Liquid Sun’s pilot project introduces a pioneering method for producing sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) by converting biogenic CO₂ and renewable hydrogen using low-temperature electrolysis (LTE) technology. In collaboration with ABB, Finnair, Fortum, and Finavia, the initiative is designed to evolve from a pilot into a scalable, integrated ecosystem for eSAF production—anchored in Finland’s emerging hydrogen value chain.
With the EU aviation blending mandate now in effect, requiring a progressive increase in renewable fuel use through 2050—including a 70% blending target with half from eSAF—the pressure to scale bankable production volumes is growing. What technological breakthroughs, policy frameworks, and ecosystem partnerships are needed to accelerate this transition and position Finland as a global leader in synthetic aviation fuels?
Speakers: Pasi Keinänen, Founder & CEO, Liquid Sun Satu Sipola, Vice President, Fortum Riku Aho, Vice President, Energy Transition, Finnair Greete Niska, Energy Specialist, Finavia Simo Säynevirta, Head of ABB Green Electrification ecosystem, ABB
Moderator: Ian Sacs, Market Manager, Smart Mobility, SKOL 1, Ramboll
