Biofuels and feedstocks

Q&A: JetBio to produce renewable diesel from ethanol

Q&A: JetBio to produce renewable diesel from ethanol

Sao Paulo, 22 October (Argus) — Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer JetBio has redesigned its first planned plant, to be built in Paulinia, in Brazil's southeastern Sao Paulo state, to include renewable diesel production from ethanol. The company's chief executive, William Moore, said the project will be the first facility in the world capable of producing renewable diesel from ethanol at a commercial scale. The project will use Honeywell UOP's technology to convert ethanol into those two renewable fuels. The new model will allow the plant to switch from maximum sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production to maximum renewable diesel production, both with no co-products, and the switch can be made within a few hours, according to Moore. At maximum SAF output, the facility would produce close to 770,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr from approximately 1.4mn t of ethanol (31,068 b/d). In maximum renewable diesel mode, output would be closer to 700,000 t/yr. JetBio plans to invest $2bn in the project, with a final investment decision expected in the first quarter of 2027 and start-up potentially from mid-2030. Edited highlights from the interview follow. Is JetBio planning to direct renewable diesel output primarily to Brazil's domestic market, or is it also eyeing international markets? We are applying to create a ZPE (Brazilian free-trade zone) and the requirement is 80pc of our product has to be exported. We are going to be living within those constraints, but even in that 20pc for both SAF and renewable diesel, we think there is strong demand in Brazil for both. The beauty of renewable diesel, while it may be a little bit more expensive, you can still get to greater than 66pc GHG reduction all the way down to 95pc-100pc, depending on what ethanol we are sourcing and if we are using biomethane instead of natural gas for heat and hydrogen. It offers the decarbonization benefits to the local market in Brazil without those companies having to make big capital investments to change over their fleets to burn ethanol or change over their bunkering infrastructure or their fueling infrastructure in order to utilize it. So far, we have seen strong interest from maritime — that would be bunkering in Santos and Paranagua —, from mining, heavy on-road transportation and agriculture. Brazil imports fossil diesel, and there is a strong argument that why would Brazil want to import all that fossil diesel when they could use locally produced renewable diesel that has a much lower carbon footprint? Now it all comes down to price, but our goal is to be the lowest-cost producer of SAF and now renewable diesel in the world at the lowest carbon intensity that has access to Brazilian markets and export markets. When we are in service, we think that Brazilian ethanol will be the most competitive green molecule in the world. And we're just converting it into two other products that can be utilized by hard-to-abate industries. Have ethanol producers shown interest in this part of the project? One thing that we are talking to ethanol producers about is would they be interested in a tolling model where they would supply the ethanol to our plant in Paulina, and for an upgrading fee we would deliver back to them renewable diesel or sustainable maritime fuel that they could sell directly to consumers that they have already established a relationship with. It has just been transformed into a much more energy-dense and pure drop-in fuel that does not require any blending and does not have storage limitations. It is a perfect replacement for the fossil diesel that they are already consuming. Is this technology adaptation driven by a change in the outlook for the SAF market? Are you seeing any bottlenecks in that market? Our view has not changed on the SAF market. We are just excited that we can access the renewable diesel market as well. We see the world being structurally short of SAF, especially non-HEFA SAF, in 2030 and beyond. I think what you have to remember here is this is the largest biorefinery of its kind that is going to be built anytime soon. From an addressable market standpoint, this just gives us an additional optionality that we can provide. By Maria Lígia Barros Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.