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Honeywell, which manufactures a variety of aviation products, has unveiled a new, cost-effective method to produce lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emission jet fuel from ethanol — which is predominantly produced from corn. The company refers to it as an “ethanol-to-jet fuel (ETJ) processing technology,” which essentially “allows producers to convert corn-based, cellulosic, or sugar-based ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).”
The technology, which is available now, is a major step forward in meeting 2030 SAF mandates. In 2021, the Biden Administration challenged the U.S. fuel supply sector to “produce at least three billion gallons of SAF per year by 2030 and reduce emissions from aviation by 20 percent, with an eventual goal of meeting 100 percent of U.S. aviation fuel demand with SAF by 2050.” Other countries have introduced similar initiatives, too.
Honeywell says its ETJ processing technology is not only cost-effective, but a widely available SAF feedstock – compared to limited supplies of traditional SAF feedstocks like vegetable oils, animal fats, etc.
The company also noted that SAF producers have the ability to “build new SAF capacity more than a year faster” than traditional construction approaches, as the ETJ technology can be modularized offsite. As well, Honeywell’s technology has been designed to enable petroleum refiners and transportation fuel producers to convert current or idle facilities into SAF production plants. What’s more, the ETJ technology represents a new revenue stream for ethanol producers looking to branch out.
Honeywell says its new ETJ process, compared to petroleum-based jet fuel, has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by 80 percent – depending on the type of ethanol feedstock used. Moreover, according to a 2021 life-cycle analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, ETJ fuel conversion can even result in negative GHG emissions when combined with carbon capture and sequestration (CCUS) and smart farming practices, the company said.
“Honeywell pioneered SAF production with its Ecofining technology, and our new ethanol-to-jet fuel process builds on that original innovation to support the global aviation sector’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions and meet SAF production targets with an abundant feedstock like ethanol,” said Barry Glickman, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions.
