Honeywell introduces UOP eFining™ technology For new class of sustainable aviation fuel

Honeywell UOP eFining can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 88% compared to conventional jet fuel

Honeywell has announced the launch of its innovative UOP eFining technology, which uses renewable energy and carbon dioxide to produce low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

eFuels combine green hydrogen and carbon dioxide to produce eMethanol, which can then be converted to a wide range of sustainable fuels, including eSAF, eGasoline, and eDiesel. Honeywell’s UOP eFining is a methanol to jet fuel (MTJ) processing technology that can convert eMethanol to eSAF reliably and at scale. Honeywell’s eFining technology offers a highly integrated design that can process flexible feedstocks using commercially proven processes, resulting in operational reliability, minimized capital expenditures, and low energy intensity.

According to Lucian Boldea, the CEO of Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies, the aviation sector’s long-term decarbonization depends on creating technologies that use new feedstocks. The company recognizes the transformational opportunity of using readily available CO2 to produce SAF and plans to add UOP eFining to its existing Ecofining and ethanol to jet technologies. This will provide multiple routes to the market and meet the growing demand for renewable fuels, including SAF.

HIF Global is the first customer to sign a commercial agreement for the production of eSAF using Honeywell UOP eFining technology. 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.

The demand for sustainable aviation fuel continues to grow as the aviation industry seeks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and meet decarbonization goals. 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 also 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.

Honeywell is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its operations and facilities by 2035. The company offers multiple routes to market using a variety of feedstocks, including Ecofining technology, which uses fats, oils and greases, and the recently launched ethanol to jet technology. Honeywell’s commitment builds on the company’s track record of sharply reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of its operations and facilities as well as its decades-long history of innovation to help its customers meet their environmental and social goals. About 60% of Honeywell’s new product introduction research and development investment is directed toward products that improve environmental and social outcomes for customers.