CHARLOTTE, N.C., - Honeywell in Phoenix announced that its new UOP eFining technology, a ready-now solution for producing low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) would be utilized by HIF Global, a leading eFuels company in Houston. HIF Global intends to deploy the new technology to produce eSAF at its second U.S. eFuels facility.
eFuels, also known as electrofuels, are a class of synthetic fuels that can replace conventionally produced fossil fuels. eFuels combine hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce eMethanol, which can then be converted to a wide range of sustainable fuels, including eSAF, eGasoline, and eDiesel.
Honeywell says its UOP eFining is a methanol to jet fuel (MTJ) processing technology that can convert eMethanol to eSAF reliably and at scale. The technology is efficient, resulting in high-yield eSAF production at a lower cost relative to comparable technologies. Honeywell UOP eFining can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 88% compared to conventional jet fuel. When blended with conventional jet fuel, eSAF is a drop-in replacement fuel that requires no changes to aircraft technology or fuel infrastructure.
HIF Global is the first customer to sign a commercial agreement for the production of eSAF using Honeywell UOP eFining. HIF expects to deploy the solution at its second commercial-scale eFuels facility in the U.S. The HIF eSAF project is expected to be the world's largest eSAF facility, recycling approximately 2 million tons of captured CO2 to make approximately 11,000 barrels per day of eSAF by 2030.
Honeywell notes that the demand for SAF continues to grow. In 2021, the Biden Administration announced its Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge for the U.S. aviation fuel supply sector to produce at least three billion gallons of SAF per year by 2030 and reduce emissions from aviation by 20%, with an eventual goal of meeting 100% of U.S. aviation fuel demand with SAF by 2050. The European Council released its ReFuelEU Aviation rules as part of the 'Fit for 55' package, which aim to increase the share of sustainable fuels at EU airports from a minimum of 2% in 2025 to 70% by 2050, with an additional subtarget for eSAF of 1.2% by 2030 and 35% in 2050. These and other incentives, including the Inflation Reduction Act, are intended to accelerate commercialization of technologies like Honeywell UOP eFining to help meet the growing demand for SAF.
