IPSC awarded development, management contract for wood-to-SAF project in Pacific Northwest

IHI Power Services Corp., an owner and operator of power plants across the U.S., has been selected by Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels LLC, a developer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects, to provide premobilization, mobilization, start-up and commissioning services for NWABF’s development of a second-generation cellulosic renewable SAF production facility in the Pacific Northwest.

According to IHI Power Services, the arrangement will also eventually involve asset management and plant operations and maintenance (O&M).

Located in the Columbia River Corridor, the facility is expected to produce SAF from woody biomass as the primary feedstock.

As a company with experience in biomass fuels and a focus on advancing the use of SAF across the energy industry, IHI Power Services said it was a top candidate to take on the development, asset-management services and ongoing operational needs of NWABF’s new facility.

The company added that it was ultimately selected for its highly experienced team of experts and a broad range of advanced-service experience and offerings.

“When we began to seek out a partner to work alongside our team on the first-ever SAF facility in the Pacific Northwest region—NWABF knew it needed a firm with ample experience in the biomass sector that could support early development while also being able to provide feedstock preparation and material-handling systems, asset management and ongoing O&M services after completion,” said Nausher Khan, NWABF’s vice president and director of project development. “IPSC fit that description perfectly with the NWABF Tier 1, industry-leading Project Partners Team—making it the ideal power-generation owner and operator to help us execute the project from start to finish.”

IHI Power Services said it brings vast experience serving organic matter-based biobased diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, ethanol and renewable natural gas power-generation facilities.

The company added that it provides an array of pre- and post-development services that will be vital throughout the duration of the NWABF SAF project.

“The advancement of SAF has quickly become crucial to the power-generation industry’s pivot to renewable and clean-energy resources,” said John R. Keller, president and CEO of IHI Power Services.

“IHI Power Services is proud to have been selected to support Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels on the development and ongoing asset management and operational needs of its upcoming SAF production facility and I am confident that our team will deliver optimal outcomes throughout every step of this project.”

IPSC stated that it has a deep understanding of O&M and asset management—with power-generation projects throughout the country—and a dedicated team of seasoned professionals skilled in combustion turbines, reciprocating engines, steam turbines, boilers, and renewable energy assets in both regulated and deregulated energy markets.

“As an owner-operator with a reputation for providing world-class services to every facility and project that it manages, IPSC is committed to reducing operational risks and maximizing value while upholding regulatory and environmental compliance,” the company said.

NWABF is developing second-generation cellulosic SAF refineries with the first project being developed in the Pacific Northwest.

NWABF has assembled a team of expert engineering companies, biofuels experts and second-generation technology companies to handle front-end gasification, syngas cleaning and treatment, back-end Fischer-Tropsch fuel conversion and, lastly, fuel upgrading to SAF.