China’s largest SAF plant begins operation

China’s Jiaao Environmental Protection has started sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production at the country’s largest plant using the Honeywell’s Ecofining technology.

The company is planning to convert 10,000 barrels of used cooking oil daily equivalent to an annual capacity of approximately 500,000 tons into SAF.

The collaboration between Jiaao and Honeywell in process technology and catalysts enables Jiaao Environmental to achieve high yields and large-scale production.

“Our plant focuses on the production of SAF, aiming to provide airlines with a stable supply of competitively priced, high-quality SAF, helping to achieve global emissions reduction targets,” said Shen Jian, chairman of Zhejiang Jiaao Environmental Protection Technology.

“Honeywell’s Ecofining technology has unique advantages, enabling it to efficiently process raw materials of varying qualities, such as the kitchen waste we use, and consistently produce high-quality renewable fuel. The plant is currently in commercial operation, and its capacity, output rate, and product quality have all met expectations.”

The two firms signed a collaboration agreement on the project back in September 2022. The production will be at the company’s site in Lianyungang in the eastern Jiangsu province. The plant began trial operations in November last year.

“This collaboration marks a milestone in our efforts to promote the large-scale application of renewable fuels, effectively overcoming the industry challenge of cost premiums. Currently, we are working to further reduce the cost of SAF by increasing production and expanding the range of available feedstocks through catalysts,” said Sun Jianneng, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Technologies China.