NXTClean Fuels selects Topsoe as technology partner for Oregon biorefinery project

Topsoe, a leading global provider of advanced technology and solutions for the energy transition, announced Nov. 6 that it has been selected to deliver three of its advanced technologies, as well as catalysts and equipment, for NXTClean Fuels’ Port Westward project in Clatskanie, Oregon.

NXTClean Fuels will utilize Topsoe’s HydroFlex™, SynCOR™ and H2bridge™ technologies and catalyst to produce up to 50,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Subject to a final-investment decision, this facility—when operational—will be the largest greenfield SAF project in the U.S. and is expected to be operational by 2029.

“Topsoe’s technology and solutions are enabling the growth of SAF in the U.S. while helping to reduce emissions within American aviation,” said Henrik Rasmussen, the managing director of Topsoe Americas. “This exciting project will significantly increase the production of SAF in the U.S. and will be the largest greenfield SAF project in the country. We’re thrilled that NXTClean Fuels has chosen our technology for this milestone project and we’re excited to see the project become operational.”

Christopher Efird, the CEO and chair of NXTClean Fuels, added, “The Topsoe technologies and catalysts dramatically reduce the carbon intensity of our fuels, making our products among the cleanest SAF and renewable diesel supplies in the world.”

This agreement addresses the rapidly growing global demand for SAF, Topsoe stated.

The International Air Transport Association projects that SAF production will more than double in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 2.1 million tons (713.3 million gallons), or 0.7 percent of total global jet-fuel production.

By integrating Topsoe’s HydroFlex™, SynCOR™ and H2bridge™ technologies, the NXTClean Fuels facility at Port Westward expects to recycle biogenic propane and off-gas to create hydrogen with lower carbon intensity, while also producing sufficient excess low-carbon hydrogen to be able to displace fossil fuel used for refinery heat.

Taken together, these innovations will significantly reduce the carbon intensity of the renewable diesel and SAF that the facility will produce.

With HydroFlex, customers can convert various fats, oils and greases into drop-in renewable jet and diesel that meet all globally accepted specifications for these fuels.

Topsoe’s HydroFlex can be deployed in both greenfield units and revamps for coprocessing or fully renewable applications.

SynCOR™ technology enables hydrogen production as well as cost-efficient carbon capture.

SynCOR™ is Topsoe’s proprietary technology based on advanced autothermal reforming principles.

Supported by 300 years of accumulative, safe operation, Topsoe said SynCOR™ is often the preferred technology for mega-scale hydrogen production due to its maturity and low capital and operating costs.

The H2bridge™ technology replaces external fossil feedstocks for production of hydrogen by processing the waste propane and off-gases from the HydroFlex™ process and converting it into green hydrogen that is then consumed in the same process.

This patented process integration provides the customers with improved carbon-intensity score.