Hydrocarbon Processing (HP) sat down with Barry Glickman (BG), Vice President and General Manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions, to discuss the future of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), its adoption into the market, and the challenges and technical solutions in meeting SAF production goals.
HP: Can you share Honeywell's contributions to advancing the SAF industry?
BG: Honeywell has played a foundational role in making SAF commercially viable. We helped pioneer SAF production with our Ecofining™ technology, which was developed in collaboration with ENI S.p.A., and was first commercialized in 2016.
We have expanded our portfolio of technologies that can be used to produce SAF, developing technologies such as FT Unicracking™, which uses the Fischer-Tropsch method to process biomass-derived liquids and waxes into SAF, the Honeywell UOP Ethanol-to-Jet (ETJ) process that converts ethanol from feedstocks like corn and cellulosic materials into SAF, and our eFining™ technology that produces SAF from captured CO2 (carbon dioxide) and green hydrogen (H2).
These advances show how we are providing scalable solutions for the SAF industry. Our renewable fuel technologies have been licensed for use at more than 70 sites around the world, contributing to the global growth of SAF supply.
HP: How do you see the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA’s) SAF Registry influencing the growth of SAF adoption across the aviation industry?
BG: The IATA SAF Registry could prove to be a pivotal accelerator for widespread SAF adoption. A transparent and credible reporting system helps build trust that airlines, fuel producers and regulators need to confidently engage with SAF initiatives. A standardized system can also help address concerns such as double counting and inconsistent accounting practices, paving the way for a cohesive industry approach.
Technology solutions that enable large-scale SAF production already exist, and a registry like this can help strengthen industry confidence and inspire greater SAF utilization and production.
HP: What are the main technological hurdles hindering the scalability of SAF production to meet the IATA's 2050 targets?
BG: Feedstock availability is one of the biggest challenges the SAF industry faces. The traditional production pathway through hydroprocessing with our Ecofining technology depends heavily on limited resources, waste oils and fats. These materials alone are not abundant enough to meet projected future SAF demand.
Honeywell anticipated this challenge and has developed technological solutions that offer a wider range of feedstock options. Our renewable fuel portfolio enables various sources such as municipal solid waste, biomass, ethanol and captured CO2 to be used as feedstock in SAF production. Our team is constantly innovating and developing new solutions that help improve feedstock diversity, production efficiency and technological flexibility, which will all be necessary to scale SAF production in line with the IATA’s 2050 carbon neutrality targets.
HP: How do Honeywell’s technologies help the industry increase SAF production and reduce costs?
BG: Honeywell's technologies are designed to improve SAF economics through higher yields, reduced waste and lower operating costs. For example, our FT Unicracking™ process can enhance SAF yields and reduce byproduct waste. The improved SAF yield can contribute to a 20% reduction in production costs when compared to traditional methods.1
In addition, Honeywell offers modular technology solutions that enable SAF units to be constructed offsite and integrated into existing infrastructure. This approach can help reduce construction costs and expedite project timelines, helping maximize returns for producers.
We are also seeing a growing demand for our SAF technologies that integrate multiple feedstock streams. This is another way we are working to help producers respond to market demand and reduce reliance on a singular type of raw material for production.
HP: As the SAF market matures, what strategies will be necessary to keep pace with demand, and how will your organization support that growth?
BG: Scaling SAF production will require broader feedstock access, faster deployment of new facilities and greater market certainty through supportive policies and certifiable tracking standards like the IATA SAF Registry.
Honeywell is supporting these efforts by working closely with airlines and producers, optimizing feedstock flexibility across our technology portfolio, and advancing deployment strategies that reduce time and costs to market.
HP: What trends are you seeing in the market when it comes to your SAF technology and licensing?
BG: The market for SAF technologies is experiencing rapidly building momentum, driven by a confluence of innovation and increasing regulatory support. Fuel producers such as Acelen Renewables in Brazil, Power2X in Europe and Taiyo Oil in Japan are leveraging cutting-edge SAF technologies like Ecofining™, eFining™ and ETJ processes, respectively. This expansion not only highlights the geographical diversification of SAF production but also represents a broader technological spectrum being adopted across different regions.
With mounting pressure to achieve lower emissions and the increasing recognition of SAF as a vital element in this effort, the market dynamics are evolving rapidly, creating new opportunities and fostering innovation at an unprecedented pace.
HP: What does the future of SAF look like, and how is Honeywell positioning itself to stay competitive as new technologies and players enter the market?
BG: The SAF market is undergoing rapid transformation as the industry embraces innovation, scales up production and adopts more standardized reporting practices. Honeywell is strategically positioning itself at the forefront of this dynamic landscape by developing technology that helps SAF producers overcome the challenges associated with feedstock availability and production costs.
We are also working to help customers optimize their processes and enhance performance monitoring using various techniques, including AI (artificial intelligence), automation and aftermarket services. This can help SAF producers achieve greater efficiency and reduce equipment downtime.
Honeywell’s dedication to innovation and collaboration uniquely positions us as more than just a technology provider. We are working to make meaningful change within the energy industry and help customers and countries meet their SAF goals. HP
NOTE
By utilizing a Honeywell patent pending process configuration; based on internal UOP cost (estimated erected cost) analysis that compares a typical configuration with the patent pending configuration
Barry Glickman is the Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell’s Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) business, which provides products and services in renewable fuels, H2, carbon capture, energy storage and plastics recycling. Glickman has spent > 25 yrs in the energy sector. He earned a BA degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA in finance and accounting from the Wharton School of Business.