Honeywell revolutionizes ethanol-to-jet fuel technology to meet demand of SAF
Technology

Honeywell revolutionizes ethanol-to-jet fuel technology to meet demand of SAF

Honeywell's new solution represents critical development in global drive to meet 2030 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandates

  • By ICN Bureau | October 13, 2022

Honeywell announced a new, innovative ethanol-to-jet fuel (ETJ) processing technology that allows producers to convert corn-based, cellulosic, or sugar-based ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Depending on the type of ethanol feedstock used, jet fuel produced from Honeywell's ethanol-to-jet fuel process can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% on a total lifecycle basis, compared to petroleum-based jet fuel. 

Demand for SAF continues to grow, yet the aviation industry is challenged by limited supplies of traditional SAF feedstocks such as vegetable oils, animal fats and waste oils. Ethanol offers producers a widely available, economically viable feedstock. Honeywell's ready now technology uses high-performance catalysts and heat management capabilities to maximize production efficiency, resulting in a cost-effective, lower carbon intensity aviation fuel.

A 2021 life-cycle analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory concluded that ethanol-to-jet fuel conversion, combined with other technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration (CCUS) and smart farming practices, can result in negative GHG emissions compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.2

"Honeywell pioneered SAF production with its Ecofining technology, and our new ethanol-to-jet fuel process builds on that original innovation to support the global aviation sector's efforts to reduce GHG emissions and meet SAF production targets with an abundant feedstock like ethanol," said Barry Glickman, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions. "Honeywell's ethanol- to-jet process, when used as a standalone or when coupled with Honeywell carbon capture technology, is ready now to provide a pathway to lower carbon-intensity SAF."

SAF plants using Honeywell's technology can be modularized off site enabling lower installed costs and faster, less labor-intensive installation compared to job site construction. By utilizing Honeywell's ETJ technology and an integrated, modular construction approach, producers can build new SAF capacity more than a year faster than is possible with traditional construction approaches.

Register Now to Attend Gujarat Chem & Petchem Conference 2025 on May 8-9th 2025, at Hyatt Place, Bharuch

Register Now to Attend NextGen Chemicals & Petrochemicals Summit 2025 on June 18-19th 2025, The Leela Mumbai

Other Related stories

Startups

Chemical

Petrochemical

Energy

Digitization