Adds details throughout on the project
Chinese private-sector firm Oriental Energy (OE) and US engineering company Honeywell have agreed in principle to build a 1mn t/yr sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility in Maoming, Guangdong province in China.
The plant will use Honeywell's patented UOP Ecofining technology. Honeywell will also provide the process design package, on-site training, technical services, catalysts, absorbents and specialised equipment for the project, which will include two 500,000 t/yr production units that will be built in phases. The units will process used cooking oil and animal fats feedstocks to produce SAF and bio-naphtha. The first phase is planned to start up in 2023.
The initial agreement will be valid for two years, during which time the parties aim to sign a binding agreement.
The plant will help meet growing SAF demand and support China's goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, Honeywell said. But China lacks any comprehensive policy supporting SAF use.
Honeywell's UOP Ecofining technology converts non-edible natural oils, animal fats and other waste feedstocks into renewable diesel and SAF. The renewable diesel and SAF produced from the UOP Ecofining process has similar molecules to petroleum-based diesel and jet fuel and can be used as a drop-in replacement without engine modifications. SAF can have a blend share of up to 50pc with the remainder made up of conventional jet fuel.
China has a 100,000 t/yr SAF plant in the eastern Jiangsu province that is thought to have started up in February, while another 100,000 t/yr SAF project in east China's Zhejiang province is planned for start-up from mid-2022, according to market participants. The status of these projects could not be confirmed with their operators.
