US-headed Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries has announced that Japanese oil refiner Taiyo Oil Co., Ltd (Taiyo Oil) has chosen the Honeywell UOP Ethanol-to-Jet (EtJ) technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Okinawa Operations in Japan.
According to a statement, this facility will be based on Honeywell UOP’s first EtJ license and basic engineering design in the Asia Pacific region with a production target of 200 million litres neat SAF per year.
Expected to begin operation in 2029, the facility becomes the fifth of its kind in the world and will provide a vital supply of SAF and renewable diesel to both domestic and international markets, contributing significantly to the growing demand for SAF driven by the aviation industry’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
For more than 40 years, Honeywell has provided Taiyo Oil with key major refining process units for its Shikoku operations, and we are honored to continue this trusted relationship to help the company advance its decarbonization initiatives. As demand for SAF continues to increase, the aviation industry faces challenges posed by the limited availability of conventional SAF feedstocks like vegetable oils, animal fats, and waste oils. Honeywell’s EtJ SAF technology broadens the available feedstock options to help overcome these challenges, said Barry Glickman, VP and General Manager of Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions.
Honeywell’s innovative EtJ SAF technology helps to enable the conversion of ethanol derived from diverse feedstocks―including corn, sugar, and cellulosic materials―into SAF that meets the rigorous standards of the aviation sector while demonstrating a significantly lower impact to the environment.
Depending on the type of ethanol feedstock used, Honeywell’s EtJ process provides a cost-effective path for producing lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emission jet fuel on a total lifecycle basis, compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.
This technology demonstrates Honeywell’s alignment to the global megatrends, including the energy transition.
Taiyo Oil’s initiative represents an important leap forward in increasing the production of sustainable aviation fuel. By leveraging Honeywell’s EtJ SAF technology, we will be in a better position to help fulfill the global aviation sector’s demand and contribute toward the overall decarbonization goals, said Teruaki Sasaki, SVP, SAF Business Project at Taiyo Oil.
Imported and domestic ethanol
The rising demand in SAF aligns with Taiyo Oil’s initiatives to produce EtJ SAF, and renewable diesel as a by-product in support of global decarbonization goals.
The project has been selected as a subsidized project under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s (METI) “Subsidy for Promotion of Transition to a Decarbonized, Growth-Oriented Economic Structure (Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Manufacturing and Supply Chain Development Support Project).”
The feedstock material for SAF and renewable diesel production will primarily be ethanol sourced from overseas. By utilizing existing port and tank storage facilities at its Okinawa Operations, Taiyo Oil can receive feedstock from large tanker vessels thereby securing cost-competitive ethanol.
In addition, Taiyo Oil plans to explore the procurement of domestic ethanol, including ethanol derived from Okinawan sugarcane and ethanol produced utilizing abandoned farmland across Japan, along with second-generation ethanol.
Leveraging Okinawa’s strategic geographical location at the center of East Asia, the SAF will be supplied to major domestic airports, including Naha Airport (OKA), Japan’s sixth busiest airport and the primary air terminal for passengers and cargo traveling to and from Okinawa Prefecture.
The SAF will be supplied for passenger- and cargo aircraft, promoting GHG reduction in cargo flight and contributing to the enhancement of international competitiveness of Japanese industry through GHG reduction of overall supply chain.
Furthermore, by leveraging its SAF manufacturing and supply project, Taiyo Oil aims to contribute to economic development and job creation on Okinawa.
