Honeywell technology to fuel Syzygy Plasmonics renewable energy SAF project

Image: Honeywell

Honeywell announced Aug. 28 that Syzygy Plasmonics will use Honeywell UOP Fischer-Tropsch Unicracking™ technology to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from dairy waste and renewable energy at what Honeywell said will be the world’s first electrified biogas-to-SAF facility.

Syzygy’s modular commercial plant, NovaSAF 1, located in Duranzo, Uruguay, is expected to produce more than 350,000 gallons of SAF per year.

The NovaSAF™ platform can be replicated at over 50,000 biogas sites globally, helping scale affordable SAF production of abundant feedstock.

“Our innovative NovaSAF platform helps meet the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuels by achieving both high volumes and low price points, even as low as Jet-A parity under the right conditions,” said Trevor Best, CEO and co-founder of Syzygy Plasmonics.

“With Honeywell’s hydrocracking technology, we can accelerate the development of our modular NovaSAF 1 plant, which will serve as a repeatable, scalable model for the future,” Best added. “This plant will show the world how profitable it can be to produce SAF from biogas waste streams combined with renewable energy.”

With traditional feedstocks in “short supply,” according to Honeywell, alternative production methods are important to produce renewable fuels.

By 2030, the International Energy Agency predicts waste- and nonfood crop-based biofuels will supply over 40 percent of biofuel demand.

“Honeywell continues to build on our hydrocracking technology, which we have pioneered for more than 70 years, while advancing the production of lower-carbon fuels for aviation,” said Rajesh Gattupalli, the president of Honeywell UOP.

“Syzygy’s modular construction paired with our proven, innovative technology demonstrates how biogas-to-SAF facilities can become more achievable and help improve waste-to-clean-energy conversion,” Gattupalli added. “The combination helps alleviate two major challenges with SAF production and scale—cost and feedstock diversity.”

Honeywell said it currently offers solutions across a range of feedstocks to meet the rapidly growing demand for renewable fuels, including SAF. 

The company said it also offers modular renewable fuels technology that can be built off-site and quickly installed at refineries, lowering risk and accelerating start up compared to traditional methods.