June 22, 2023 [Gas World]- Global chemicals and energy company Sasol has joined forced with carbon emission reduction technologies specialist Topsoe to develop, build, own, and operate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plants.
The plans were laid out with the signing of an agreement to establish a 50/50 joint venture focused on the production of SAF and market the diesel alternative to help decarbonise the aviation sector.
To do this, the produced product will be derived primarily from non-fossil feedstock, utilising green hydrogen, sustainable sources of CO2 and/or biomass, with a specific focus on Sasol’s Fischer Tropsch and Topsoe’s related technologies.
More than 300,000 commercial flights have used SAF in the past five years by more than 40 airlines. Thirteen major airports can refuel aircraft with SAF.
Fleetwood Grobler, President and CEO of Sasol, notes the agreement as an important milestone in advancing the company’s long-term strategy to become Net Zero by 2050.
Roeland Baan, CEO of Topsoe, added, “We need to keep the world open by creating more sustainable ways of flying, and our shared commitment to accelerating sustainable aviation fuels is a vital part of this.”
News of the agreement will contribute to the Biden Administration’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, which tasked the US aviation fuel supply sector to produce at least three billion gallons of SAF a year by 2030.
Further to the above, it will also contribute to the European Council’s ReFuel EU aviation proposal which aims to increase the share of sustainable fuels at EU airports from a minimum of 2% in 2025 to 70% by 2050, with an additional sub target for eSAF of 1.2% by 2030 and 35% in 2050.
Ultimately, these efforts will contribute to global efforts in combating climate change and form a path for sustainable aviation. As it stands, the aviation sector alone contributes 2-3% of global carbon emissions.
The Sasol and Topsoe joint venture is subject to approval by relevant authorities.
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