US e-fuels producer Infinium has started to build its second electrofuels facility, which it is calling Project Roadrunner, in Reeves County, Texas. The target is for commercial operations by 2027.
Project Roadrunner will convert waste carbon dioxide and renewable electricity into 23,000 tonnes per year of e-fuels, including electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF), for US and European markets.
To power production, Infinium has secured 150MW of new wind energy through a long-term power purchase agreement with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources.
The renewable electricity will drive hydrogen generation via a 100MW HYPRPlant electrolyser system supplied by Electric Hydrogen, which will be fully integrated on site.
Infinium has said the set-up could support additional hydrogen offtake opportunities beyond its eSAF production.
Project Roadrunner builds on the platform of Project Pathfinder, Infinium’s first commercial facility in Corpus Christi. In 2023, the company became the first to produce and ship commercial volumes of e-fuels to customers.
Under an agreement with airline group IAG, the eSAF to be produced will be shipped to the UK to help meet UK-established SAF targets. By 2030, at least 10% of jet fuel for UK departures must come from sustainable sources.
Jonathon Counsell, IAG’s Group Sustainability Officer, said the company was proud to be an early customer of the developing plant.
“The aviation industry is making progress, but continued support and stronger incentives are necessary to accelerate production at the scale and pace required to ensure a long-term, affordable supply.”
Robert Schuetzle, CEO of Infinium, said the new project was an important achievement.
According to market research, the e-fuel market was valued at $6.2bn in 2023 and is projected to reach $48.5bn by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 34.3% from 2024 to 2030. So far SAF production volumes are far behind where they need to be for the targets that have been set in different regions.
