Sustainable Aviation Fuel Made Affordable By Honeywell Technology

Honeywell has unveiled a groundbreaking application of its hydrocracking technology, offering a solution for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from biomass. This advancement promises a significant reduction in carbon intensity, with the resulting SAF being 90% less carbon-intensive than traditional fossil-based jet fuels. Notably, this new technology not only yields 3-5% more SAF but also brings about a potential cost reduction of up to 20%, while concurrently minimizing by-product waste streams compared to existing hydroprocessing methods.

By leveraging Honeywell’s Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Unicracking technology, liquids and waxes derived from processed biomass—ranging from agricultural remnants to wood waste and food scraps—can be transformed into SAF that adheres to stringent aviation industry standards, with a notably lower environmental footprint. This innovation underscores Honeywell’s strategic alignment with key megatrends, notably the energy transition.

“As demand for SAF continues to grow, the aviation industry is challenged by limited supplies of traditional SAF feedstocks such as vegetable oils, animal fats and waste oils,” said Ken West, president and CEO of Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions. “When combined with the existing Fischer-Tropsch process, our new technology will expand the feedstock options available in the industry to sources that are more plentiful, ultimately helping improve our customers’ ability to produce SAF.”

DG Fuels has recently opted for Honeywell’s FT Unicracking technology for its forthcoming biofuels manufacturing facility in Louisiana. Set to become the world's largest SAF production site utilizing the FT process, this facility is slated to churn out 13,000 barrels of SAF daily upon commencement of operations in 2028.

“Using Honeywell's advanced technology, DG Fuels will supply enough fuel for more than 30,000 transatlantic flights every year, contributing significantly to reducing the carbon emissions of global air travel,” said Michael Darcy, CEO of DG Fuels. “This is a big leap forward in supporting the airline industry's goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050.”

Honeywell has been at the forefront of SAF production since the introduction of its Ecofining process in 2016. Expanding its offerings to cater to diverse feedstocks and the burgeoning demand for renewable fuels, the company now presents a comprehensive portfolio including Ethanol to Jet technology and eFining, which converts green hydrogen and carbon dioxide into e-fuels. Over 50 global sites have licensed Honeywell's SAF technologies, with refineries anticipated to surpass a collective capacity of 500,000 barrels of SAF per day at full operational capacity.