NextChem awarded licensing, engineering-design contract for Norsk e-Fuel’s SAF project in Norway

Maire S.p.A. announced Jan. 31 that its NextChem Tech subsidiary has signed a contract with Paul Wurth S.A., a subsidiary of SMS group, and Norsk e-Fuel AS for a licensing and engineering-design package for Norsk e-Fuel’s industrial-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project in Mosjøen, Norway.

The plant is being designed to produce SAF from green hydrogen and biogenic CO2.

This will be the first factory developed by Norsk e-Fuel, a Norwegian project developer backed by a strong shareholder group including Paul Wurth.

The plant will have a production capacity of 40,000 tons per year (tpy) of eFuels and is expected to enter operation after 2026.

Based on the initial design, two additional facilities with a capacity of approximately 80,000 tpy each are planned to be built by 2030.

Maire said NextChem Tech will apply its proprietary NX CPO technology, an advanced innovative process to produce synthesis gas via a controlled partial oxidation through a very fast reaction.

When applied to synthetic fuel production, NX CPO contributes to improved carbon-efficiency recovery yield, according to Maire.

“We are proud of being part of this breakthrough technological initiative with SMS group and Norsk e-Fuel aimed at industrializing eFuels production in Norway,” said Maire CEO Alessandro Bernini.

Karl Hauptmeier, CEO of Norsk e-Fuel, added, “Our collaboration with NextChem Tech is another step towards improving carbon efficiency of our production processes while simultaneously reducing costs. We are grateful for this impactful partnership and look forward to the seamless integration of all technology components.”

Paul Tockert, executive vice president of metallurgy for SMS group, said, “Having NextChem Tech on board completes the overall picture of technology providers involved in the project. This collaboration enables Norsk e-Fuel to improve process efficiency and competitiveness in the eFuels market. With now all partners on board and having the FEED study started, we are confident to bring this project to an historical success.”