Sulzer, Avalon Energy Group form strategic alliance to advance global SAF production
- Sulzer
- 24 hours ago
- 2 min read
Sulzer Chemtech announced July 7 the signing of a strategic alliance and partnership agreement with Avalon Energy Group LLC, a U.S.-based developer of integrated sustainable energy projects, to scale up the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Under the agreement, Avalon has selected BioFlux™ technology for its portfolio of SAF projects currently under development worldwide, which will lead to a commercial technology-licensing agreement with Sulzer.
The partnership’s first project will be Avalon’s flagship biorefinery in Uruguay.
This 1-million-ton-per-year facility is designed to be fully integrated, from the cultivation of dedicated nonedible-oilseed crops to the production of low-carbon SAF.
The project will utilize oil from camelina sativa, a nonedible crop, as the primary feedstock, establishing a secure and sustainable supply chain that avoids impact on food resources.
“This strategic alliance with Sulzer is a major step forward in our mission to decarbonize the aviation industry,” said Irshad Ahmed, the president and CEO of Avalon Energy Group. “Sulzer’s BioFlux™ technology is a best-in-class, proven solution that will enable us to produce SAF efficiently and cost-effectively. Our Uruguay project will be the first of many, serving as a model for how to build a vertically integrated, sustainable and scalable platform for SAF production. We are thrilled to partner with a world-class technology provider like Sulzer to bring our vision to life and meet the growing global demand for clean aviation fuel.”
Avalon is actively developing a pipeline of similar SAF projects in key locations, including India, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), and Illinois in the U.S.
The alliance with Sulzer provides a standardized, state-of-the-art technology framework that will accelerate the development and deployment of these facilities.
“We are proud to partner with Avalon Energy Group on their ambitious global rollout of SAF projects,” said Ilja Mikenberg, the global head of process solutions at Sulzer Chemtech. “Avalon’s innovative approach to integrating agriculture with biofuel production is a perfect match for our BioFlux™ technology, which is designed to process renewable feedstocks with high efficiency and reliability. The Uruguay project, with its use of camelina sativa, is a landmark initiative that will showcase the immense potential for creating a truly sustainable aviation fuel value chain. We look forward to supporting Avalon as they set a new standard for the industry.”
BioFlux technology, developed by Duke Technologies LLC in the U.S. and globally licensed by Sulzer Chemtech, features a proprietary liquid-full reactor design that optimizes hydrogen availability and eliminates the need for a vapor-recycle loop.
Combined with advanced catalyst innovations, this configuration enhances yield, extends catalyst life and reduces production costs, according to Sulzer Chemtech.
