Honeywell partners with Verso Energy to scale eSAF production using eFining technology, supporting aviation decarbonization and meeting growing global demand.
Honeywell has announced that Verso Energy will deploy Honeywell UOP’s eFining™ methanol-to-jet technology to produce electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) across seven planned sites in France, Finland, and the United States. This collaboration will help reduce capital costs, speed up project timelines, and expand global SAF production capacity through advanced technology and standardized plant design.
Honeywell’s eFining process converts carbon dioxide from biological sources, renewable electricity, and hydrogen into electrofuels such as eSAF. When blended with conventional jet fuel, eSAF functions as a drop-in solution, requiring no modifications to aircraft or fueling infrastructure, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 88%.
Antoine Huard, CEO of Verso Energy, emphasized that efficient and cost-effective eSAF production is essential for airlines to meet evolving regulatory requirements. He noted that Honeywell’s proven SAF technologies, combined with Verso’s scalable design approach, will accelerate production and support rising global demand.
Demand for eSAF is expected to grow significantly under the European Union’s ReFuelEU initiative, which targets a 35% share of eSAF in aviation fuel by 2050. Leveraging Honeywell’s technology, Verso Energy aims to produce around 200 million gallons of eSAF annually across its planned facilities.
Barry Glickman, Vice President at Honeywell Low Carbon Energy, highlighted that Honeywell’s SAF solutions address key challenges such as production cost and feedstock availability. The eFining technology enables the use of widely available carbon dioxide, making production more scalable and less carbon-intensive, while ongoing innovations are improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Verso Energy has secured funding from the EU Innovation Fund for its DEZiR and ReSTart projects, which are set to become some of Europe’s first large-scale facilities dedicated entirely to eSAF production. The DEZiR project has also received support from the French government and is expected to begin operations by 2030.
In addition to eFining, Honeywell’s renewable fuels portfolio includes Ecofining™, FT Unicracking™, Biocrude Upgrading, and Ethanol-to-Jet technologies, offering flexible solutions for producing next-generation sustainable fuels.
