October 16, 2024 [Gas World]- Power2X and Advario plan to develop a ‘world scale’ production and storage hub for sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) and synthetic low carbon fuels in the Port of Rotterdam.

The Power2X production facility, aiming to open by 2030, will have capacity to produce over 250,000 tonnes/year of e-SAF, a non-fossil, synthetic fuel made from green hydrogen.

It will be the largest e-SAF facility announced to-date, making sufficient ultra-low carbon fuel to fully power approximately 7,000 flights between Amsterdam and New York annually.

The facility will use imported green methanol produced from green hydrogen and biogenic carbon as feedstock as well as locally produced green hydrogen. Green methanol will be imported from locations where renewable energy and green hydrogen are abundant.

The announcement is a significant milestone for e-SAF development, which has yet to gain traction amid concerns over green hydrogen supply volumes.

Advario will develop a storage and logistics facility with a capacity of around 230,000 cubic metres, supported by marine and rail facilities, to ensure a stable supply chain for the green molecules.

The strategic location in the Port of Rotterdam offers direct access to European airports, including Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, making it a key hub for the distribution of sustainable aviation fuels and e-fuels.

Developing the next generation energy hub

Advario acquired the 26-hectare former Aluchemie site in Rotterdam in April 2023 and has since been working with Power2X to transform it into a hub for new energy solutions.

With its waterfront access and proximity to the key hydrogen pipeline, the site is positioned as a prime location for the development of sustainable energy within one of Europe’s major energy and chemical hubs. Power2X and Advario are committed to creating future proof solutions and supporting green innovation and broader European decarbonisation goals.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is critical to reducing CO2 emissions, cutting lifecycle carbon emissions by 90% compared to conventional jet fuel. Europe’s ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation mandates the increased use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), including e-SAF from 2030 onwards. The hub will contribute 40% of required e-SAF volume when it launches.

Occo Roelofsen, Founder and CEO of Power2X, said the project demonstrates its commitment to developing the next generation of energy infrastructure and accelerating the energy transition.

He said, “This strategically positioned site and innovative business-model aims to make competitive production of e-SAF at global scale in the heart of Europe possible. It underscores our leadership in driving decarbonisation and delivering sustainable solutions for the future.”

Bas Verkooijen, CEO of Advario, said it was a prime example of Advario’s strategy to play “a frontrunner role” in the energy transition.

Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said SAF production facilities in Rotterdam currently supply 24% of Europe’s aviation fuel need. According to the European Union’s target, 20% of all aviation fuel is to be produced from renewable sources.

“The production of e-SAF in Rotterdam is therefore important to meet future SAF demand,” he said. “This project by Advario and Power2X is an example of the successful conversion of land in the Port of Rotterdam from fossil fuel to green, sustainable production.”

Finland e-SAF proposal

In another encouraging e-SAF move, last week Norwegian e-fuel company Norsk e-Fuel and Fortum agreed to reserve a 14-hectare area for an e-SAF plant at the Port of Rauma in Finland.

It marks Norsk e-Fuel’s first project outside Norway and is in line with the company’s long-term strategy to support Europe’s Net Zero targets by 2050. The project is in its early stages, and Norsk e-Fuel has not yet made an investment decision.

Fortum and Norsk e-Fuel, together with Port of Rauma, will begin planning the area’s electrical connections and permit processes for establishing the e-fuel production facility.

The plant’s annual production could reach 100 million litres of liquid fuel, produced through electrolysis using clean electricity and captured carbon dioxide. Most of the production will be e-SAF.