Honeywell has announced that Inner Mongolia Jiutai Group (Jiutai) has selected its UOP eFining technology to support the production of 1,00,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually from eMethanol. This marks Honeywell’s first global commercial eFining license, underscoring the company’s commitment to the future of aviation, energy transition, and automation.
Honeywell’s eFining technology, a pioneering methanol-to-jet (MTJ) processing method, transforms eMethanol into eSAF, a low-carbon jet fuel, with greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness than comparable technologies. The process uses methanol derived from carbon dioxide (CO2) and green hydrogen, enabling a significant expansion of feedstock options for SAF production. Impressively, this technology can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 88% compared to conventional jet fuel.
“Honeywell’s extensive technical expertise and practical experience in SAF have enabled us to identify innovative ways in which flexible feedstocks can be used to support aviation’s energy transition,” said William Yu, President of Honeywell China. “This collaboration not only marks the first commercial license for SAF production using Honeywell’s eFining technology, but also showcases our commitment to contributing to the sustainable development of the global aviation industry as we drive progress toward a low-carbon future.”
The partnership will see Inner Mongolia Jiutai Group converting its existing methanol-to-olefins (MTO) facility into a state-of-the-art SAF production plant. The facility will leverage the abundant wind resources in northwest China, further enhancing the efficiency of SAF production.
Cui Lianguo, Chairman of Jiutai Group, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “With more than a century of technological innovation, Honeywell has established a strong partnership with Jiutai over the years. Through this collaboration, Jiutai will integrate surplus capacity from our MTO facility and utilise Honeywell’s technology to produce SAF. This partnership not only drives our group’s energy transformation but also contributes to the aviation industry’s sustainable future.”
Honeywell’s eFining technology is the latest addition to its portfolio aimed at decarbonising the aviation sector. The company, in partnership with Eni S.p.A., pioneered SAF production with its Ecofining process, which has been in commercial use since 2016. Honeywell’s SAF technologies, now deployed across more than 50 sites globally, are set to exceed a combined capacity of over 5,00,000 barrels of SAF per day when fully operational.
This collaboration between Honeywell and Inner Mongolia Jiutai Group represents a significant milestone in the journey toward a more sustainable aviation industry, with both companies playing a pivotal role in reducing global carbon emissions and supporting the energy transition..
