US engineering and technology company Honeywell has been selected by DG Fuels to supply its Unicracking technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that produces 90% less carbon emissions than fossil-based jet fuels.
Honeywell’s technology will enable DG Fuels to produce 13,000 barrels of SAF each day at its Louisiana biofuels manufacturing facility that will open in 2028.
The technology uses the Fischer-Tropsch process to take liquids and waxes from biomass such as crops, wood waste or food scraps.
The process works by using a special catalyst to mix carbon monoxide and hydrogen under high pressure and temperature to produce liquid fuels.
Commenting on the announcement, Ken West, President and CEO of Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions, said, “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.”
“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.”
Using Honeywell’s technology, DG Fuels will supply enough fuel for more than 30,000 transatlantic flights every year, according to Michael Darcy, CEO of DG Fuels.
A pioneer in SAF production through its Ecofining process since 2016, Honeywell now offers diverse solutions across various feedstocks to meet the rising demand for renewable fuels, including SAF.
In addition to Unicracking and Ecofining, its portfolio includes Ethanol to Jet technology and eFining, converting green hydrogen and CO2 into e-fuels.
To reduce emissions in the transport and aviation sectors the US has introduced several policies including California Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the US Renewable Fuel Standard and the US Sustainable Skies Act.
In early September 2021, the US also announced a new SAF goal to increase its production to at least three billion gallons per year by 2030.
