Alder Fuels, Colombian government partner to supply feedstock for green crude-to-SAF model

In a historic first, Colombia could become a “green” crude, carbon-negative exporter thanks to a strategic alliance between the Colombian government and Alder Fuels LLC.

Alder is a cleantech company that pioneered groundbreaking technologies to convert forestry and other woody residue into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a large scale to be used by commercial airlines.

Through this partnership, which was announced during COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties, Colombia will tap into its vast agricultural infrastructure and incentivize local farmers to supply biomass feedstock for conversion into sustainable low-carbon crude. Alder’s refining process will convert the forestry and crop residue, as well as regenerative agricultural crops that rejuvenate soil, into drop-in replacement “green” crude used for producing aviation fuel.

“Colombia is committed with the importance of tackling climate change,” said Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez. “Therefore, our Ministry of Agriculture and Alder Fuels LLC signed an MOU during the world’s most important climate-change scenery, COP26. This MOU has the objective to produce sustainable aviation fuel from biomass farming in the country by guaranteeing small farmers the product commercialization through ‘Agricultura por Contrato’ (contract farming). It will also promote public–private alliances that attract investment to the country and will contribute with Colombia’s objective of reducing 51 percent of GHG emissions by 2030, become carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2050 as well as helping the aviation industry reach carbon-neutrality goals, which will not only have an impact in Colombia but in the world.”

Bryan Sherbacow, founder, president and CEO of Alder Fuels, added, “The leadership from President Duque and Minister Navarro demonstrates how nations can develop innovative approaches to concurrently address global carbon reduction goals, support local economies and improve quality of life at home and abroad. The Alder-Colombia partnership is a model for advancing agricultural practices and scaling technology that will one day decarbonize aviation.”

This announcement further positions Alder Fuels as an emerging force within the green-energy economy. In September, United Airlines and Honeywell announced a multimillion-dollar joint venture with Alder Fuels, wherein both companies would invest in Alder Fuels and Alder would provide United Airlines 1.5 billion gallons of SAF, the largest SAF purchase ever announced at the time. Alder Fuels’ first-of-its kind technology will increase the volume of SAF produced and the type of renewable feedstocks that can be converted into carbon-negative SAF to reduce fossil jet fuel consumption and benefit the flying public.

Alder Fuels is a process technology and project development company in the low-carbon energy industry. It is commercializing a process to produce crude oil that is carbon negative, scalable and cost-competitive with the petroleum it replaces. The process will be compatible with the existing petroleum refining and logistics infrastructure.