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Norwegian sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) producer Nordic Electrofuel has received Saudi government approvals to develop an e-SAF plant in Jubail, Chief Executive Gunnar Holen told Argus Media. Land and solar energy assets have been set aside by the Kingdom for the project, Holen added.
The details: The company plans to use energy from solar assets and green hydrogen to annually produce around 350 mn litres of e-SAF, with a 2029 launch date if the project is fast-tracked. Solar energy will come from existing assets in the region, while the company plans to produce its own green hydrogen in the Kingdom.
SOUND SMART- SAF is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks — raw materials or biomass other than traditional crude oil like cooking oil and waste, which are chemically and physically identical to conventional jet fuel. Since it is a drop-in fuel — meaning it can be used in the existing fuel systems — SAF bypasses concerns of incompatibility with existing fuelling infrastructure and can be blended at levels between 10-15%.
The company has regional ambitions: Another e-SAF plant in Oman is also in the works for Nordic Electrofuel, with plans to use green hydrogen purchased from Oman’s planned mega production projects. The company — which is set to benefit from the region’s cost-competitive renewable energy — also plans to use its initial production to supply regional airlines to avoid the EU’s criteria on renewable fuel of non-biological origins.
REMEMBER- Oman has its sights on e-fuel production: In June, Omani OQ Group’s green unit OQ Alternative Energy signed two agreements to explore developing e-fuels in Oman. One agreement signed with Belgium’s Tree Energy Solutions (TES) will see the pair assess the viability of electric Natural Gas (e-NG) production, and the other was signed with Dutco, Sumitomo, Automobili Lamborghini, and Airbus for a joint feasibility study to evaluate the production of e-Gasoline and e-SAF.
KSA as well: Saudi oil giant Aramco is investing “ hundreds of mns of USD ” in multiple SAF demonstration projects in the Kingdom and abroad, including one that was inaugurated in UK’s Oxford Airport in August and another two that are planned for launch in Neom in 2025. Another e-fuels demonstration plant with Spain’s Respol was said to be in the works to produce 8k liters per day in Spain.
