KeyState, CNX and PIT to develop SAF-Hydrogen facility

A collaboration between KeyState Energy, CNX Resources and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) aims to setup a facility to produce hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at the airport.

“The innovations contemplated for the PIT hydrogen and SAF Hub have the potential to produce the lowest-carbon, lowest-cost, large-scale aviation fuel in the world,” said Perry Babb, CEO, KeyState Energy.

The new facility will have the flexibility to produce either hydrogen (up to 68,000 metric tons annually) or SAF (up to 70m gallons per year), or both simultaneously at adjusted volumes.

The $1.5bn project is contingent on the US Department of Treasury enabling a pathway for ultra-low carbon intensity fugitive coal mine methane under the 45V Hydrogen Production Tax Credit.

This facility, once it starts operations, could produce enough SAF to replace nearly all traditional jet fuel usage at PIT at a competitive price.

“Increasing SAF and hydrogen production in the U.S. is a necessary first step in reducing carbon output to meet upcoming industry goals, helping aviation earn its right to grow and moving further toward a cleaner, greener future. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners, CNX and KeyState Energy, in cementing Pittsburgh International Airport and our region as a global leader in sustainable energy,” said Christina Cassotis, CEO, Pittsburgh International Airport.

The collaboration is also pursuing a federal grant to conduct a logistics study to determine the most cost-effective way to transport SAF produced at PIT to other airports in the Northeast and Midwest. This could involve pipelines, barges, or rail.

A 2021 study from the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) confirmed that constructing and operating a gas-to-liquids SAF facility at PIT is technically feasible through the use of onsite natural gas production and net-zero or net-negative greenhouse gas emissions feedstocks to produce SAF.