Honeywell announced breakthrough in hydrocracking technology for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from biomass. This fuel is expected to be 90% less carbon-intensive compared to traditional fossil-based jet fuels. The new Honeywell technology claims to yield 3-5% more sustainable aviation fuel and deliver cost savings of up to 20%. Additionally, it significantly reduces by-product waste streams compared to typical hydroprocessing technologies.
This SAF production technology aligns with aviation industry standards for environmentally friendly fuel production, utilizing waxes, liquids from processed biomass, and residues from food scraps, wood waste, and crops.
Ken West, President and CEO of Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions, highlighted challenge the aviation industry faces with a shortage of raw materials like animal fats, waste oils, and vegetable oils due to increased demand for sustainable aviation fuel.
West elaborated that this technology can augment SAF raw material supplies by integrating the existing Fischer-Tropsch process, making it more accessible and increasing customers’ capacity to produce SAF.
DG Fuels selected Honeywell’s FT Unicracking technology for its Louisiana manufacturing facility, which is anticipated to be the world’s largest SAF production facility. Once operational in 2028, this facility is expected to produce 13,000 barrels of sustainable aviation fuel daily.
Michael Darcy of DG Fuels expressed confidence that with Honeywell’s technology, DG Fuels will be able to supply enough fuel for over 30,000 transatlantic flights annually, thereby reducing carbon emissions from global air travel.
