Syzygy selects Velocys microFTL tech for Uruguay SAF site

Image of Estancia Del Lago Site, courtesy EDL. This is the location where Syzygy will locate its project that has licensed Velocys technology.

Syzygy Plasmonics announced that it has selected Velocys for its microFTL technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its announced commercial project in Uruguay.

The Uruguay site, named NovaSAF 1, will convert dairy waste and biogas into drop-in jet fuel with a nameplate capacity of 500,000 gallons annually.

“This project proves that profitable SAF production doesn’t have to wait on future infrastructure,” said Trevor Best, CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics. “With Velocys, we’re bringing in a complete, modular solution that drives down overall production costs and is ready to scale. Uruguay is only the start.”

NovaSAF 1 will utilise 100% renewable electricity and use Syzygy’s NovaSAF platform along with Velocys’ microFTL technology.

“We’re proud to bring our FT technology into a project that’s changing the game,” said Matthew Viergutz, CEO of Velocys. “This is what innovation looks like – fast, flexible, and focused on making SAF production affordable.”

Syzygy plans to achieve final investment decision by fourth quarter of 2025 with operations scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.

The company said it is currently in the process of getting certifications including CORSIA, EU RED II and RFNBO, LCFS, U.S. RFS.

Syzygy says with its modular design and feedstock flexibility, NovaSAF 1 is built for replication across 50,000+ untapped biogas sites worldwide to utilised for SAF production.

Earlier in June, Syzygy announced that it has begun work on the front-end engineering and design (FEED) with Kent for NovaSAF 1 to develop electrified biogas-to-SAF facility.

Located in Durazno, Uruguay, the project has backing from long-term feedstock and site agreements with Estancias del Lago (EDL), one of Uruguay’s dairy and agri-energy operator.